Classes and Objects

Python is an object oriented programming language.
Almost everything in Python is an object, with its properties and methods.
A Class is like an object constructor, or a "blueprint" for creating objects.

Create a Class
To create a class, use the keyword class
class MyClass:
x = 5

Create Object
Now we can use the class named MyClass to create objects
p1 = MyClass()
print(p1.x)

The __init__() Function
The examples above are classes and objects in their simplest form, and are not really useful in real life applications.
To understand the meaning of classes we have to understand the built-in __init__() function.
All classes have a function called __init__(), which is always executed when the class is being initiated.
Use the __init__() function to assign values to object properties, or other operations that are necessary to do when the object is being created

class Person: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age p1 = Person("John", 36) print(p1.name) print(p1.age)

The self parameter is a reference to the current instance of the class, and is used to access variables that belong to the class.
It does not have to be named self , you can call it whatever you like, but it has to be the first parameter of any function in the class

Since python is an object oriented language, we can have properties of OOPs like Polymorphism, Inheritance, Encapsulation and Abstraction similar to other programming languages.
Scope of variables is also same as that of other languages.