13.2. OOP Attributes

13.2.1. Rationale

  • Attributes are also known as "Properties" or "Fields"

  • snake_case name convention

  • Attributes store information (state) for instances

  • Access field values using dot (.) notation

  • Attributes should be defined only in __init__() method

  • More information in OOP Init Method

attribute

Variable inside the class. In Python, methods also can be described as attributes, but justification for that is a bit more complex which will be introduced later in a book.

field

Variable inside the class. Can be used as a synonym of property or state.

property

Variable inside the class. Should not change during lifetime of an object.

state

Variable inside the class. Changes during lifetime of an object. Represents current state of an object.

namespace

Container for storing related data

Class example with distinction of properties and state attributes.

An example "Glass with Water" can illustrate the distinction of properties and state attributes:

Properties:

  • color

  • width

  • height

  • radius

  • capacity

  • net mass (without water)

State:

  • volume (how much water is currently in the glass)

  • gross mass = net mass + water mass (water mass depends on its volume used))

../../_images/oop-classes-glass.jpg

13.2.2. Syntax

>>> class Astronaut:
...     firstname: str
...     lastname: str
>>>
>>>
>>> astro = Astronaut()
>>> astro.firstname = 'Mark'
>>> astro.lastname = 'Watney'

13.2.3. Dynamic Attributes

Dynamic attributes:

>>> class Astronaut:
...     firstname: str
...     lastname: str
>>>
>>>
>>> jose = Astronaut()
>>> jose.firstname = 'José'
>>> jose.lastname = 'Jiménez'
>>>
>>> print(f'My name... {jose.firstname} {jose.lastname}')
My name... José Jiménez

Accessing not existing attributes:

>>> class Astronaut:
...     firstname: str
...     lastname: str
>>>
>>>
>>> astro = Astronaut()
>>>
>>> print(astro.missions)
Traceback (most recent call last):
AttributeError: 'Astronaut' object has no attribute 'missions'

>>> class Astronaut:
...     name: str
>>>
>>>
>>> mark = Astronaut()
>>> jose = Astronaut()
>>> jose.name = 'José Jiménez'
>>>
>>> print(f'My name... {jose.name}')
My name... José Jiménez
>>> print(f'My name... {mark.name}')
Traceback (most recent call last):
AttributeError: 'Astronaut' object has no attribute 'name'

13.2.4. Namespace

>>> point_x = 1
>>> point_y = 2
>>> point_z = 3
>>>
>>> print(point_x)
1
>>> print(point_y)
2
>>> print(point_z)
3

>>> class Point:
...     x: int
...     y: int
...     z: int
>>>
>>>
>>> point = Point()
>>> point.x = 1
>>> point.y = 2
>>> point.z = 3
>>>
>>> print(point.x)
1
>>> print(point.y)
2
>>> print(point.z)
3

13.2.5. Different Types

>>> class Iris:
...     features: list[float]
...     label: str
>>>
>>>
>>> setosa = Iris()
>>> setosa.features = [5.1, 3.5, 1.4, 0.2]
>>> setosa.label = 'setosa'
>>>
>>> print(setosa.label)
setosa
>>> print(setosa.features)
[5.1, 3.5, 1.4, 0.2]
>>> sum(setosa.features)
10.2

>>> from typing import Union
>>>
>>> class Astronaut:
...     age: Union[float,int]
>>>
>>>
>>> jose = Astronaut()
>>> jose.age = 36
>>>
>>> mark = Astronaut()
>>> mark.age = 42.1

>>> class Astronaut:
...     pass
>>>
>>>
>>> jose = Astronaut()
>>> jose.age = 36
>>>
>>> mark = Astronaut()
>>> mark.age = 42.1

13.2.6. Get All Dynamic Attributes and Values

  • vars(obj) - returns all fields in dict format

Getting dynamic fields and values:

>>> class Iris:
...     sepal_length: float
...     sepal_width: float
...     petal_length: float
...     petal_width: float
...     species: str
>>>
>>>
>>> flower = Iris()
>>> flower.sepal_length = 5.1
>>> flower.sepal_width = 3.5
>>> flower.petal_length = 1.4
>>> flower.petal_width = 0.2
>>> flower.species = 'setosa'
>>>
>>> vars(flower)  
{'sepal_length': 5.1,
 'sepal_width': 3.5,
 'petal_length': 1.4,
 'petal_width': 0.2,
 'species': 'setosa'}

13.2.7. Use Cases

>>> class Laptop:
...     cpu: float
...     ram: int
...     ssd: int
>>>
>>>
>>> macbook = Laptop()
>>> lenovo = Laptop()
>>> hp = Laptop()
>>> asus = Laptop()

>>> class Date:
...     year: int
...     month: int
...     day: int
>>>
>>>
>>> gagarin_launch = Date()
>>> gagarin_launch.year = 1961
>>> gagarin_launch.month = 4
>>> gagarin_launch.day = 12
>>>
>>> armstrong_first_moon_step = Date()
>>> armstrong_first_moon_step.year = 1969
>>> armstrong_first_moon_step.month = 7
>>> armstrong_first_moon_step.day = 21

>>> class Date:
...     year: int
...     month: int
...     day: int
>>>
>>>
>>> class Person:
...     firstname: str
...     lastname: str
...     date_of_birth: Date
...     height: float
...     weight: float

>>> class Astronaut:
...     firstname: str
...     lastname: str
>>>
>>>
>>> watney = Astronaut()
>>> watney.firstname = 'Mark'
>>> watney.lastname = 'Watney'
>>>
>>> lewis = Astronaut()
>>> lewis.firstname = 'Melissa'
>>> lewis.lastname = 'Lewis'
>>> lewis.address = 'Ćwiartki 3/4'
>>>
>>> print(watney.address)
Traceback (most recent call last):
AttributeError: 'Astronaut' object has no attribute 'address'
>>> print(lewis.address)
Ćwiartki 3/4

>>> watney_firstname = 'Mark'
>>> watney_lastname = 'Watney'
>>> watney_mission = 'Ares 3'
>>> watney_agency = 'NASA'
>>>
>>> lewis_firstname = 'Melissa'
>>> lewis_lastname = 'Lewis'
>>> lewis_mission = 'Ares 3'
>>> lewis_agency = 'NASA'

>>> class Astronaut:
...     firstname: str
...     lastname: str
...     mission: str
...     agency: str
>>>
>>>
>>> watney = Astronaut()
>>> watney.firstname = 'Mark'
>>> watney.lastname = 'Watney'
>>> watney.mission = 'Ares 3'
>>> watney.agency = 'NASA'
>>>
>>> lewis = Astronaut()
>>> lewis.firstname = 'Melissa'
>>> lewis.lastname = 'Lewis'
>>> lewis.mission = 'Ares 3'
>>> lewis.agency = 'NASA'
>>>
>>> vars(watney)  
{'firstname': 'Mark',
 'lastname': 'Watney',
 'mission': 'Ares 3',
 'agency': 'NASA'}
>>>
>>> vars(lewis)  
{'firstname': 'Melissa',
 'lastname': 'Lewis',
 'mission': 'Ares 3',
 'agency': 'NASA'}

13.2.8. Assignments

Code 13.3. Solution
"""
* Assignment: OOP Attribute Model
* Required: yes
* Complexity: easy
* Lines of code: 12 lines
* Time: 8 min

English:
    1. Model the data using classes Astronaut and SpaceAgency
       a. Watney, USA, 1969-07-21
       b. NASA, USA, 1958-07-29
    2. Create instances (watney, nasa) filling it with data
    3. How many classes are there?
    4. How many instances are there?
    5. Run doctests - all must succeed

Polish:
    1. Zamodeluj dane za pomocą klas Astronaut i SpaceAgency
       a. Watney, USA, 1969-07-21
       b. NASA, USA, 1958-07-29
    2. Stwórz instancje (watney, nasa) wypełniając je danymi
    3. Ile jest klas?
    4. Ile jest instancji?
    5. Uruchom doctesty - wszystkie muszą się powieść

Tests:
    >>> import sys; sys.tracebacklimit = 0

    >>> assert isinstance(watney, Astronaut)
    >>> assert isinstance(nasa, SpaceAgency)
    >>> assert 'Watney' in vars(watney).values()
    >>> assert 'USA' in vars(watney).values()
    >>> assert '1969-07-21' in vars(watney).values()
    >>> assert 'NASA' in vars(nasa).values()
    >>> assert 'USA' in vars(nasa).values()
    >>> assert '1958-07-29' in vars(nasa).values()
"""


# Watney, USA, 1969-07-21
# NASA, USA, 1958-07-29

13.2.9. References

glassimg

https://media.istockphoto.com/vectors/glasses-set-for-water-glasses-full-empty-halffilled-with-water-vector-vector-id905957960?k=6&m=905957960&s=612x612&w=0&h=DE0uCDCehEA_eDHzHW38jvhl3pYjNuoqXZ_6ZzHbz0M=