[Tutor] Python 3.2 - difference between out of dir() and help()

[Flynn, Stephen (L & P - IT)]

Pythonistas,

 

                Tinkering around this morning and noticed the following
when I created a tuple and asked for a dir() on it and some help() on
it.

 

 

>>> x=('rod','jane','freddy')

>>> dir(x)

['__add__', '__class__', '__contains__', '__delattr__', '__doc__',
'__eq__', '__format__', '__ge__', '__getattribute__', '__getitem__',
'__getnewargs__', '__gt__', '__hash__', '__init__', '__iter__',
'__le__', '__len__', '__lt__', '__mul__', '__ne__', '__new__',
'__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__rmul__', '__setattr__',
'__sizeof__', '__str__', '__subclasshook__', 'count', 'index']

>>> help(x)

Help on tuple object:

 

class tuple(object)

 |  tuple() -> empty tuple

[etc... snipped for brevity]

 

 

                All pretty standard stuff. I did however notice that the
dir(x) told me about __class__, __reduce__ and __reduce_ex__ where the
help(x) made no mention of them. Why is this difference? I presume the
two commands using different means of getting at and displaying the
methods for an object?

 

                Is help() giving me all of the useful methods an object
has which I'm encouraged to make use of, whereas dir gives me a complete
list of everything that object can 'do' including those methods which
aren't really meant for public consumption?

 

 

P.S. Posting from work, so I've configured this mail software to post to
this address in plain text. I'm hoping this email is going to get
converted to plain text when I hit send, as it looks decidedly html/rich
text as I type...

 

Steve Flynn | Technical Architect | Life & Pensions Services | Capita |
The Grange, Bishops Cleeve, GL52 8XX | 01242-670864

Part of Capita plc www.capita.co.uk <http://www.capita.co.uk/> 

 

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