Python Instance & Class Variables
Instance variable:
"Instance variables are the variables for which the value of the variable is different for every instance."
We can also say that the value is different for every object that we create. Let us dive into some in-depth explanations. When we create a class, we define a few variables along with it. For example, we have created a class of Students, and we have defined a variable age. All the students cannot have the same age in a class, so we have assigned the variable an average age of 16. Now, whenever we use an object to print the value of age, it will show 16. We can change the value of age, but it will create a new instance variable for the specific object that we are updating it for, hence defining the value to it.
The code for changing age for a particular object will be something like this:
Std1.age = 18Class variable:
"Class attributes are owned by the class directly, which means that they are not tied to any object or instance."
Same as in the above example, if we want to change the age for every instance from 16 to 17, then we can do it by using the class variable, which in this case is Student.
"It is worth noting that updating the value of the class variable will not change it for the instance variables of the objects, such as in the case above."
The code for changing age using a class variable will be something like this:
Students.age = 18The following are the notable differences between Class (static) and instance variables.
Instance variables
When an object is created with the use of the new keyword, instance variables are created. They are destroyed when the object is destroyed.Instance variables can be accessed by calling the variable name inside the class. ObjectReference.VariableName.
Every instance of the class has its own copy of that variable. Changes made to the variable don't affect the other instances of that class.
Class variables
When the program starts, static variables are created and destroyed when the program stops.Static variables can be accessed by calling using a class name. ClassName.VariableName.
There is only one copy of that variable that is shared with all instances of the class. If changes are made to that variable, all other instances will be affected.
The __dict__ attribute
Every object in Python has an attribute that is denoted by __dict__. It maps the attribute name to its value. This dictionary stores all the attributes defined for the object itself. Following is the syntax of using __dict__:
object.__dict__Example
class Employee:
no_of_leaves = 8
pass
harry = Employee()
rohan = Employee()
harry.name = "Harry"
harry.salary = 455
harry.role = "Instructor"
rohan.name = "Rohan"
rohan.salary = 4554
rohan.role = "Student"
print(Employee.no_of_leaves)
print(Employee.__dict__)
Employee.no_of_leaves = 9
print(Employee.__dict__)
print(Employee.no_of_leaves)