What does "first class" mean?

[Christian Tismer]

Tom Loredo wrote:
> 
> Hi folks-
> 
> I've often seen reference here (and on the Ruby page) to Python's
> treatment of functions and methods as "first class objects."

My understanding:
It means that they are first class citizens, there is no
difference to any other object type. They are allowed in
the same context as other objects of other types.

Example:   you can write

  print f

and Python will try to print this object, regardless
whether it is an int, a string, a function, a traceback, a class,...

Notabene the entry "a function":
f is not called, since it is a first class object.
In order to call f, you need the call syntax, and Python will
try to call the object, if there is a way to do so.

VB for example would always try to call f, with or without
parentheses.

ciao - chris

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