Python Self
In Python, the self
parameter is a reference to the current instance of a class. It is used to access the attributes and methods of the class within the class definition.
The self
parameter is automatically passed to the methods of a class when they are called. It is not necessary to include it as an argument when calling the method, but it must be included as the first parameter in the method definition.
For example, the following code defines a class called Person
with a method say_hello
that uses the self
parameter to access the name
attribute of the class:
1class Person: 2 def __init__(self, name): 3 self.name = name 4 5 def say_hello(self): 6 print("Hello, my name is " + self.name) 7 8person = Person("William") 9person.say_hello() # Output: Hello, my name is William
In the __init__
method, the self
parameter is used to initialize the attributes of the class. In the say_hello
method, the self
parameter is used to access the name
attribute of the class and use it in the print statement.
It's a common practice to use self
as the name for the first parameter of the methods in a class, but it's not mandatory, any other name can be used. However, it's important to use the same name throughout the class definition to maintain consistency.
the self
parameter in Python is a reference to the current instance of a class and is used to access the attributes and methods of the class within the class definition. It is automatically passed to the methods of a class when they are called and must be included as the first parameter in the method definition. Understanding and using the self
parameter is an essential part of becoming proficient in object-oriented programming in Python.