Defining classes and constructors

20-minute lesson · module-classes-02

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Defining classes and constructors

20-minute lesson · module-classes-02

  • Write a class statement that defines a new type.
  • Define an `__init__` constructor that sets up instance attributes.
  • Create instances and read their attributes with dot notation.
  • Explain the role of `self` as the instance being operated on.

Source attribution

Status: adapted

How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Interactive Edition source · Classes and Objects - the Basics / User-Defined Classes / Improving our Constructor

Adaptation notes. Reading rewritten in our voice. The worked class models an Iowa State Student with a name and a credit total. Hidden tests construct instances and check that the constructor stored the right attributes.

License notes. Original chapter is GNU FDL 1.3 (Brad Miller and David Ranum). No verbatim text from the original is reproduced here.