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Python Object-Oriented Python Advanced Objects Subclassing Built-ins

Kohei Ashida
Kohei Ashida
4,882 Points
Posted by Kohei Ashida
Kohei Ashida
4,882 Points

Why does jso.name get back 'Kenneth' while jso['language'] raises KeyError: 'language' in javascriptobject.py?

In the following code, I'm confusing in a few things.

class JavaScriptObject(dict):
    def __getattribute__(self, item):
        try:
            return self[item]
        except KeyError:
            return super().__getattribute__(item)

>>> import javascriptobject                                                                                                                                               
>>> jso = javascriptobject.JavaScriptObject({'name':'Kenneth'})                                                                                                           
>>> jso.language = 'Python'                                                                                                                                               
>>> jso.name                                                                                                                                                      
'Kenneth'                                                                                                                                                                 
>>> jso['name']                                                                                                                                                           
'Kenneth'                                                                                                                                                                 
>>> jso['language']                                                                                                                                                       
Traceback (most recent call last):                                                                                                                                        
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>                                                                                                                                     
KeyError: 'language'

First, why does jso.name get back 'Kenneth' though the key of the value is sting type 'name' in the following lines?

>>> jso = javascriptobject.JavaScriptObject({'name':'Kenneth'})                                                                                                           
>>> jso.language = 'Python'                                                                                                                                               
>>> jso.name                                                                                                                                                      
'Kenneth'

Second, If the case above works, why does jso['language'] raise KeyError though I've already set jso.language = 'Python' in the following lines? 

>>> jso.language = 'Python'                                                                                                                                               
>>> jso.name                                                                                                                                                      
'Kenneth'                                                                                                                                                                 
>>> jso['name']                                                                                                                                                           
'Kenneth'                                                                                                                                                                 
>>> jso['language']                                                                                                                                                       
Traceback (most recent call last):                                                                                                                                        
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>                                                                                                                                     
KeyError: 'language'

Could someone give me more explanation to these things?

Thanks!

2 Answers

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

Remember that "JavaScriptObject" is a dictionary, but with a customized way of accessing attributes. It looks them up in the dictionary.

So when jso is created, it already has the key 'name' defined. Because of the custom override, "jso.name" is the same thing as "jso.['name']" which returns the value from the dictionary.

But "jso.language = 'Python'" does not add a value to the dictionary., so you get an error when you try to access it.

However, if you do "jso['language'] = 'Python'" instead, it will be added to the dictionary, and you can get it back.

Timothy Mattingly
Timothy Mattingly
15,934 Points
Timothy Mattingly
Timothy Mattingly
15,934 Points

In the video, jso.language does return 'python'

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

Yes, "jso.language" returns the property directly. But "jso['language']" would not.

Kohei Ashida
Kohei Ashida
4,882 Points
Kohei Ashida
Kohei Ashida
4,882 Points

Thanks for your explanation!

So when jso is created, it already has the key 'name' defined. Because of the custom override, "jso.name" is the same thing as "jso.['name']" which returns the value from the dictionary.

This makes me clear to understand what is going on here.

Thanks a lot!