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Python

So I am not able to write for loops in magic methods:

I am not sure why this is not working? If I print(Morris.pattern) I get output of ['.', '.', '.'] if I print(Morris) I get output: dash. I feel that should really work with a for loop. Its unclear to me why I am getting this behavior?

class Letter:
    def __init__(self, pattern=None):
        self.pattern = str(pattern)

    def __str__(self):
        for item in self.pattern:
            if item == ".":
                return "{}".format("dash")
            if item == "_":
                return "{}".format("dash")


class S(Letter):
    def __init__(self):
        pattern = ['.', '.', '.']
        super().__init__(pattern)

Morris = S()

print(Morris.pattern)

1 Answer

Cooper Runstein
Cooper Runstein
11,850 Points

I think you're somewhat misunderstanding the use of magic methods, you need to actually use the method in order for anything to happen. If you print Morris.str right now it works, except it will only print "dash" because your for loop also doesn't work the way you're expecting it to. As soon as you get either a dot or dash in pattern, your return statement kicks in and ends the function, thus you'll only get one word as the result of the str method.

So the use of the method should be print(Morris.pattern) I believe this is included as well str() according to the documentation also from my understanding, ts not when you use Morris.str but when you call str() or print() it should loop through the pattern and swap chars. but when i run print( Morris.pattern) its just printing the hardcoded pattern and getting frustrating.