Python Classes: What is a class in Python Structure & example.

Classes in Python can be thought of as blueprints for objects that define attributes and methods. Classes come to life in the form of objects.

Python: Basics of classes and objects

In programming, the use of classes takes a central role, especially in the Python programming language.

• What a class is in Python: A class in Python is a blueprint or template that defines the structure and behaviour of objects. It serves as a template for the creation of objects.

• Classes enable the modelling of real or abstract concepts in programming. A class can contain both properties and functions.

• What an object is in Python: An object is an instance of a class. It is created from a class and represents a concrete entity that has the properties and behaviours of the class.

• Each object has its own storage space and values for the attributes defined in the class. You can think of an object as a concrete example or “embodiment” of the class.

• What an abstract class is in Python: In Python, you can also create abstract classes. An abstract class is a class from which you cannot create objects. It serves as a basic framework for other classes and can contain abstract methods that must be implemented by the derived classes.

• Abstract classes are useful when you want to ensure that certain methods are present in subclasses, but you do not want to create concrete objects of that class.

The parameter “self” and the destructor in Python

After understanding the basics of classes and objects in Python, we turn our focus to two crucial concepts: the parameter “self” and the destructor.

• What the parameter “self” stands for in Python classes: The parameter “self” is a convention in Python and is used as the first parameter in the methods of a class. It represents the object itself on which the method is called.
• Through “self” you have access to the attributes and methods of the current object. With “self” you can ensure that the correct data is processed for the respective object.
• What the destructor does within classes in Python: In Python, there is a special method called “del” that acts as a destructor. The destructor is called when an object is no longer referenced and is collected by the garbage collector.
• You can use the destructor to free resources or perform cleanup before the object is destroyed. This is often useful to avoid resource leaks.