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Changing Class Members in Python

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In the previous fact, we have seen that Python doesn’t have the static keyword. All variables that are assigned a value in the class declaration are class variables.

We should be careful when changing the value of a class variable. If we try to change a class variable using an object, a new instance (or non-static) variable for that particular object is created and this variable shadows the class variables. Below is a Python program to demonstrate the same.

Python3




# Class for Computer Science Student
class CSStudent:
    stream = 'cse'     # Class Variable
    def __init__(self, name, roll):
        self.name = name
        self.roll = roll
 
# Driver program to test the functionality
# Creating objects of CSStudent class
a = CSStudent("Geek", 1)
b = CSStudent("Nerd", 2)
 
print ("Initially")
print ("a.stream =", a.stream )
print ("b.stream =", b.stream )
 
# This thing doesn't change class(static) variable
# Instead creates instance variable for the object
# 'a' that shadows class member.
a.stream = "ece"
 
print ("\nAfter changing a.stream")
print ("a.stream =", a.stream )
print ("b.stream =", b.stream )


Output: 

Initially
a.stream = cse
b.stream = cse

After changing a.stream
a.stream = ece
b.stream = cse

We should change class variables using class names only. 

Python3




# Program to show how to make changes to the
# class variable in Python
 
# Class for Computer Science Student
class CSStudent:
    stream = 'cse'     # Class Variable
    def __init__(self, name, roll):
        self.name = name
        self.roll = roll
 
# New object for further implementation
a = CSStudent("check", 3)
print "a.stream =", a.stream
 
# Correct way to change the value of class variable
CSStudent.stream = "mec"
print "\nClass variable changes to mec"
 
# New object for further implementation
b = CSStudent("carter", 4)
 
print "\nValue of variable steam for each object"
print "a.stream =", a.stream
print "b.stream =", b.stream


Output: 

a.stream = cse

Class variable changes to mec

Value of variable steam for each object
a.stream = mec
b.stream = mec

 



Last Updated : 14 Dec, 2021
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