[Tutor] class variables

[Adelein and Jeremy]

--- Nick Lunt <nick at javacat.f2s.com> wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> Im making my way through the book 'Learning Python 2nd Edition'. I 
> understand classes but I have a question.
> Take the following for example -
> 
> class beer:
>     def __init__(self):
>        self.make = 'murphys'
>        cans = 4
> 
> There's several examples I've seen where 'self.var' isn't used,
> just 
> 'var' is, as in 'cans' above.
> I know that each instance of 'beer' will have its own value for
> 'make' 
> but what is the use of 'cans' without using self ?

In this example, there is no use. Once __init__ has been called and
executed, the variable cans will be taking up memory space with no
way for you to access it (well, normally, anyway). Given that x =
Beer(), neither x.cans nor Beer.cans is going to turn up anything but
an AttributeError exception. On what page are you?

Perhaps you are referring to something such as the following:

class Beer:
    beers = 0
    def __init__(self, make=''):
        self.make = make
        Beer.beers += 1

x = Beer('michelob')
y = Beer('murphys')
z = Beer('busch')

After this, the variable beers is 3, and x.beers, y.beers, z.beers,
and Beer.beers will all be 3. This, of course, is very useful.

HTH
- Jeremy


	
		
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