Classes in Python

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In Python, classes are a fundamental feature of the language's object-oriented programming (OOP) model. They allow developers to create objects with shared properties and methods. Unlike JavaScript, Python's classes are not syntactic sugar—they are a core feature of the language.

1. Definition of Classes in Python

A class in Python is a blueprint for creating objects (instances).
It defines the attributes (properties) and methods (behaviors) that the objects will have.

2. Syntax and Usage

Declaring a Class:

Use the class keyword to define a class.

Syntax:

class ClassName:
    # Constructor method (optional)
    def __init__(self, parameters):
        # Initialize properties
        self.property = value

    # Instance method
    def method_name(self):
        # Method logic
        pass

    # Static method
    @staticmethod
    def static_method_name():
        # Static method logic
        pass

Example:

class Animal:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def speak(self):
        print(f"{self.name} makes a sound.")

Creating an Instance:

Use the class name followed by parentheses to create an instance.

Example:

dog = Animal("Rex", 5)
dog.speak()  # "Rex makes a sound."

Inheritance:

Python supports inheritance using the super() function to call the parent class's methods.

Example:

class Dog(Animal):
    def __init__(self, name, age, breed):
        super().__init__(name, age)
        self.breed = breed

    def speak(self):
        print(f"{self.name} barks.")

3. Are Python Classes Syntactic Sugar?

No, Python classes are not syntactic sugar. They are a core feature of the language.
Under the hood, Python classes are implemented using dictionaries and namespaces.
- Each object's attributes are stored in a dictionary (__dict__).
- Methods are stored in the class's namespace and accessed via the instance.

Example:

print(dog.__dict__)  # {'name': 'Rex', 'age': 5, 'breed': 'German Shepherd'}

4. Key Features of Python Classes

Dynamic: Classes and objects can be modified at runtime.
Multiple Inheritance: Python supports inheriting from multiple classes.
Dunder Methods: Special methods (e.g., __init__, __str__) allow customization of object behavior.

Connections:

Sources:

From: Una breve guia a la programación y Javascript