Python - why use “self” in a class?

Question

How do these 2 classes differ?

class A():
    x=3

class B():
    def __init__(self):
        self.x=3

Is there any significant difference?

Answer 1

I used to explain it with this example

# By TMOTTM

class Machine:

    # Class Variable counts how many machines have been created.
    # The value is the same for all objects of this class.
    counter = 0

    def __init__(self):

        # Notice: no 'self'.
        Machine.counter += 1

        # Instance variable.
        # Different for every object of the class.
        self.id = Machine.counter

if __name__ == '__main__':
    machine1 = Machine()
    machine2 = Machine()
    machine3 = Machine()

    #The value is different for all objects.
    print 'machine1.id', machine1.id
    print 'machine2.id', machine2.id
    print 'machine3.id', machine3.id

    #The value is the same for all objects.
    print 'machine1.counter', machine1.counter
    print 'machine2.counter', machine2.counter
    print 'machine3.counter', machine3.counter

The output then will by

machine1.id 1
machine2.id 2
machine3.id 3

machine1.counter 3
machine2.counter 3
machine3.counter 3