[issue12491] Update glossary documentation for the term 'attribute'
New submission from Senthil Kumaran <senthil@uthcode.com>: Update the term 'attribute' in the glossary http://docs.python.org/dev/glossary.html#term-attribute so that the reader can understand that the term attribute in Python can mean both 'data-attribute' and a 'callable' method. ---------- assignee: docs@python components: Documentation messages: 139809 nosy: docs@python, orsenthil priority: normal severity: normal status: open title: Update glossary documentation for the term 'attribute' versions: Python 2.7, Python 3.2, Python 3.3 _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue12491> _______________________________________
Changes by Eric Snow <ericsnowcurrently@gmail.com>: ---------- nosy: +ericsnow _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue12491> _______________________________________
Raymond Hettinger <raymond.hettinger@gmail.com> added the comment: The current glossary entry is fine and encompasses was is ordinarily meant by attribute as distinct from a method. We sometimes use the term loosely to mean any value whether callable or not. And sometimes it is used loosely to mean anything that can be looked up with getattr(). Attempts to over-define it will be incorrect for some uses. Also, it is likely to make the glossary entry less understandable. ---------- assignee: docs@python -> rhettinger nosy: +rhettinger _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue12491> _______________________________________
R. David Murray <rdmurray@bitdance.com> added the comment: As an experienced Python programmer, I think of 'attribute' as meaning any attribute (method or non-method) of an object or class. I sometimes do use it imprecisely (to my mind) to mean "non-method attribute", and it is usually clear from context what I mean. Raymond, if attribute means only non-method attributes, what is the word for the set of things that contains both method and non-method...ah, attributes...of an object? (I thought we already had this discussion both on python-dev and another issue....) Hmm. Actually looking at the linked entry, it looks correct to me (it covers both method and non-method attributes as far as I can see). It might be clearer if it mentioned that a value can be anything, including a method. ---------- nosy: +r.david.murray _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue12491> _______________________________________
R. David Murray <rdmurray@bitdance.com> added the comment: OK, I found the other issue and it looks like we agreed to use 'attributes and methods' where the reference was inclusive. I still think that it is less precise to think this way, but it is clearer exposition given the lack of a good term for non-method attributes. So now I agree that we should not change the existing glossary definition of attribute. ---------- _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue12491> _______________________________________
Changes by Raymond Hettinger <raymond.hettinger@gmail.com>: ---------- resolution: -> rejected status: open -> closed _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue12491> _______________________________________
participants (4)
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Eric Snow -
R. David Murray
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Raymond Hettinger
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Senthil Kumaran