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Python Object-Oriented Python Instant Objects Methods

Posted by Michael Cook
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Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 Points

Does 'self' in Python basically behave the same as 'this' in JavaScript?

Are there any major differences? I am already fairly proficient in JavaScript and it was the first language I learned so I have a bit of a bias toward interpreting Python through my understanding of JS, but I don't want to end up getting them confused.

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points

In a very general sense, yes, the self in python is used to point to the current instance much in the same manner as the this is used in JavaScript to point to the current object. Additionally, the variable name "self" is merely a convention. The first variable named in class method definitions could be "this" and it would still work, but that (or this) would be confusing to regular Python coders. Consider the following code:

this.py 
class SomeClass():
    def __init__(this):
        this.attrib = "confusing to python coders, but works"

    def __str__(this):
        return f"This is {this.attrib}!"


s = SomeClass()
print(s)

$ python this.py
This is confusing to python coders, but works!
Michael Cook
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 Points

Thank you Chris.