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Python Object-Oriented Python Instant Objects __init__

mohan Abdul
PLUS
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

Can someone help me to rephrase the question? As i am not understanding what its asking.

"I'd like to be able to set the name attribute at the same time that I create an instance. Can you add the code for doing that? Remember, you'll need to override the init method." What does it mean by ' i would like you to set the name attribute at the same time that i create an instance? what does it mean by overriding the __init__method?

first_class.py
class Student:
    name = "Your Name"

    def praise(self):
        return "You inspire me, {}".format(self.name)

    def reassurance(self):
        return "Chin up, {}. You'll get it next time!".format(self.name)

    def feedback(self, grade):
        if grade > 50:
            return self.praise()
        return self.reassurance()
mohan Abdul
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

this is my blind guess.

class Student:
    name = "Your Name"

    def praise(self):
        return "You inspire me, {}".format(self.name)

    def reassurance(self):
        return "Chin up, {}. You'll get it next time!".format(self.name)

    def feedback(self, grade):
        if grade > 50:
            return self.praise()
        return self.reassurance()

    def __init__ (self, name):
        self.name = Student()
    ```

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

You are SO close. Set the attribute to the name parameter:

def __init__ (self, name):
    self.name = name

Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!

mohan Abdul
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

it says he would like to set the name attribute at the same time i create an instance. I thought that only instance is created when a class is used, so shouldn't it be '''self.name = Student()'''. thanks for your reply.

def __init__ (self, name):
    self.name = name
mohan Abdul
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

could you please try to rephrase the of what its asking? so i have a better understanding.

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

The better phrasing would be I would like you to set the name attribute when the instance is initialized.

When an instance of the Student class is created using Student(), the __init__ method is run with self pointing to the newly created instance. This makes the code reference self.some_attribute apply to attributes on the new instance. The actual flow is:

  • call Student()
  • this runs Student.__new__ to create instance
  • __new__ calls __init__ with self pointing to new instance
  • __init__ initializes the instance, creating attributes as desired, then exits, returning None.
  • execution returns to __new__ method that returns the initialized instance

Note __new__ is rarely discussed as it is a hidden part of the standard process. It later lessons you will see an example of the rare case where one might want to override the __new__ method. Spoiler: when inheriting from immutable classes like str

Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!

mohan Abdul
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

what is __new__? whats that referring? So what you are saying is that __init__ is run automatically, when Student() is called. thank you for you reply.

mohan Abdul
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

can you clarify to me what is an instance, i always thought an instance is a result of something where a class is used.

mohan Abdul
mohan Abdul
Courses Plus Student 1,453 Points

Chris Freeman, thanks for your reply in the latest thread, could you please try to answer the other questions in this thread. thanks for your support.

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

what is __new__? The method __new__ is automatically inherited from the class object in every defined class.

So what you are saying is that __init__ is run automatically, when Student() is called. Exactly correct!!

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

An class instance is the object created calling a class. That is, when parens () are used after a class name.