namespace question

Steven D'Aprano steve+comp.lang.python at pearwood.info
Fri Feb 24 17:25:44 EST 2012


On Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:08:43 -0800, David wrote:

> Your code updated to show the difference between a variable, a class
> variable, and an instance variable.

The preferred terms in Python circles are class and instance 
*attributes*, not variables.

An integer variable is a variable holding an integer.

A string variable is a variable holding a string.

A list variable is a variable holding a list.

Therefore a class variable is a variable holding a class, and an instance 
variable is a variable holding an instance.

Yes, in Python, classes and types are first-class objects (pun not 
intended), and it is quite common to store them in variables:

for cls in (int, float, Decimal, Fraction, myint, myfloat):
    do_something_with(cls)


Other languages may choose to use illogical terminology if they choose.



-- 
Steven



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