Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Object-Oriented Python Inheritance Multiple Superclasses

Posted by Nancy Nyabuti
Nancy Nyabuti
5,298 Points

Need help understanding the use of the super() function

From the previous Videos I've watched, I understood that the super function is used to either:

  1. extend functionality from the inherited super/parent classes without having to implement the same code again.
  2. to enable multiple inheritance.

In the attributes.py file, kenneth implements the super() function in both the Sneaky and Agile class. I don't understand why he does this yet both classes are not inheriting from any super class.

class Sneaky: sneaky = True

def __init__(self, sneaky=True, *args, **kwargs):
    super().__init__(*args, **kwargs).  # here
    self.sneaky = sneaky

def hide(self, light_level):
    return self.sneaky and light_level < 10

class Agile: agile = True

def __init__(self, agile=True, *args, **kwargs):
    super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)    # here
    self.agile = agile

def evade(self):
    return self.agile and random.randint(0, 1)

Could someone please explain why he does this. Thanks in advance 😊

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,198 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,198 Points

This is an example of your point #2. With multiple inheritance, instead of "super" calling a method in the parent (that would be your #1 case), it calls the method in the next class of the MRO.

This functionality is discussed in the video starting around the 2 minute mark.