Python Class Introduction

Python is a widely-used programming language known for its simplicity and readability. In this section, we will explore the basics of Python classes and how they are used to create objects.

What is a Class?

A class in Python is a blueprint for creating objects. It defines the properties and behaviors that the objects of the class will have.

Class Structure

A class is defined using the class keyword, followed by the class name and a colon. Inside the class, we define methods and attributes that define the behavior and properties of the class.

class MyClass:
    def __init__(self, value):
        self.value = value

    def display(self):
        print(self.value)

In the above example, MyClass is a class with an attribute value and a method display.

Creating Objects

To create an object from a class, we use the () operator.

my_object = MyClass(10)

In the above example, my_object is an instance of MyClass with the value 10.

Accessing Attributes and Methods

Once an object is created, we can access its attributes and methods using the . operator.

print(my_object.value)  # Output: 10
my_object.display()     # Output: 10

Inheritance

Python supports inheritance, which allows us to create a new class based on an existing class. The new class is called a subclass, and the existing class is called a superclass.

class SubClass(MyClass):
    def __init__(self, value, extra_value):
        super().__init__(value)
        self.extra_value = extra_value

    def display_extra(self):
        print(self.extra_value)

In the above example, SubClass is a subclass of MyClass. It inherits the value attribute and display method from MyClass and adds an additional attribute extra_value and a method display_extra.