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Nancy Nyabuti
5,298 PointsNeed help understanding the use of the super() function
From the previous Videos I've watched, I understood that the super function is used to either:
- extend functionality from the inherited super/parent classes without having to implement the same code again.
- to enable multiple inheritance.
In the attributes.py file, kenneth implements the super() function in both the Sneaky and Agile class. I don't understand why he does this yet both classes are not inheriting from any super class.
class Sneaky: sneaky = True
def __init__(self, sneaky=True, *args, **kwargs):
super().__init__(*args, **kwargs). # here
self.sneaky = sneaky
def hide(self, light_level):
return self.sneaky and light_level < 10
class Agile: agile = True
def __init__(self, agile=True, *args, **kwargs):
super().__init__(*args, **kwargs) # here
self.agile = agile
def evade(self):
return self.agile and random.randint(0, 1)
Could someone please explain why he does this. Thanks in advance 😊
1 Answer

Steven Parker
222,336 PointsThis is an example of your point #2. With multiple inheritance, instead of "super" calling a method in the parent (that would be your #1 case), it calls the method in the next class of the MRO.
This functionality is discussed in the video starting around the 2 minute mark.