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Python

Posted by CHRISTOPHER HECKER
CHRISTOPHER HECKER
1,865 Points

compare and contrast - songs.py - def __int__ confusion

The code checker accepts the solution below.

class Song:
    def __init__(self, artist, title, length):
        self.artist = artist
        self.title = title
        self.length = length

    def __int__(self):
        return self.length

    def __eq__(self, other):
        return int(self) == other

First, wouldn't one expect def int to be something like:

    def __int__(self):
        return int(self.length)

An online community support comment indicated the above would result in an infinite loop. Is this true? If so, wouldn't one expect something like (this fails the code checker, btw):

    def __int__(self):
        return super().__int__(length)

1 Answer

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

self.length isn't of type Song, so I don't see how it can cause an infinite loop.

In the case of super().__int__(length), super() is the class object (the default class all classes inherit from), and it does not have any generic __int__ method that applies to all sub-classes.

CHRISTOPHER HECKER
CHRISTOPHER HECKER
1,865 Points

"self.length isn't of type Song". Of course! Thanks, that helps cement the concept.

As to def int(self): The code checker seems to accept either def int(self): return self.length or def int(self): return int(self.length)