Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Object-Oriented Python Advanced Objects Math

Confusion in code :(

What is different between self.value and self as it both does the same work but Kenneth sir uses both self.value and self, Any explanation?

2 Answers

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,427 Points

It is a matter of context. In the NumString class, self.value refers to the string value stored in the attribute and self refers to the NumString instance object itself.

The built-in method int() operates on strings. By using int(self) Kenneth is triggering a call to the class' __int__ method to convert to an integer. If int(self.value) were used, then the string contained in self.value would be pass directly to int(). It is important to use the int(self) to be sure that the objects own __int__ is run in cases where special considerations might be implemented for that class.

Clarification: The builtin type int can be called as a function int() to coerce and object into and integer. Internally it knows how to convert numbers and strings to integers (there is no str.__int__() method) so the __int__ method would only be called for other object types.

Chul Kim
Chul Kim
2,341 Points

Self = created object (instance)

Self.value = string object **Because we used str() on the value and saved the result (a string object) inside the variable self.value

So when we call int(self), which could also be understood as int(created object or instance), it will go to the class that the created object is under to see how to use int() on it. Which will be defined under __int__.

When we call int(self.value), which could also be understood as int(string object), we will go also go to the class that the string object is under to see how to use int() which will also be under __int__ but this one is built-in already.

Is this..right?

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,427 Points

You have it correct except that int() converts a string internally. There is no str.__int__() method. I’ve expanded my answer above.

Ray Karyshyn
Ray Karyshyn
13,443 Points

Hi Anupama,

In Python self represents an instance of the class.

On the other hand, self.value accesses an attribute of the class (in this case the 'value' attribute).

class Person:
    name = "Bob"

    def return_the_name_attribute(self):
        return self.name  # We retrieve attributes of a class using dot notation