Python calling method in class

Question

I\'m punching way above my weight here, but please bear with this Python amateur. I\'m a PHP developer by trade and I\'ve hardly touched this language before.

What I

Answer 1

Let's say you have a shiny Foo class. Well you have 3 options:

1) You want to use the method (or attribute) of a class inside the definition of that class:

class Foo(object):
    attribute1 = 1                   # class attribute (those don't use 'self' in declaration)
    def __init__(self):
        self.attribute2 = 2          # instance attribute (those are accessible via first
                                     # parameter of the method, usually called 'self'
                                     # which will contain nothing but the instance itself)
    def set_attribute3(self, value): 
        self.attribute3 = value

    def sum_1and2(self):
        return self.attribute1 + self.attribute2

2) You want to use the method (or attribute) of a class outside the definition of that class

def get_legendary_attribute1():
    return Foo.attribute1

def get_legendary_attribute2():
    return Foo.attribute2

def get_legendary_attribute1_from(cls):
    return cls.attribute1

get_legendary_attribute1()           # >>> 1
get_legendary_attribute2()           # >>> AttributeError: type object 'Foo' has no attribute 'attribute2'
get_legendary_attribute1_from(Foo)   # >>> 1

3) You want to use the method (or attribute) of an instantiated class:

f = Foo()
f.attribute1                         # >>> 1
f.attribute2                         # >>> 2
f.attribute3                         # >>> AttributeError: 'Foo' object has no attribute 'attribute3'
f.set_attribute3(3)
f.attribute3                         # >>> 3