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Python Object-Oriented Python (retired) Objects Create a Class with a Method

Ryan Malkmus
Ryan Malkmus
2,053 Points
Posted by Ryan Malkmus
Ryan Malkmus
2,053 Points

question with using .format() it python

class Store():
    open = 9
    close = 6

    def hours():
        return "We're open between {} and {} " .format(self.open, self.close)

I'm not sure if my markdown is going to work. I apologize if it doesn't.

I imagine that I would know how to do this if I watched previous python videos from treehouse. The only python experience I have is from playing around on codecademy. I've never used the .format function yet. Can someone help me learn how to use in this situation?

3 Answers

Jegnesh Gehlot
Jegnesh Gehlot
5,452 Points
Jegnesh Gehlot
Jegnesh Gehlot
5,452 Points

Ryan, You are almost right. The only thing you are missing is self instance in the method hours. The code should be like this:

class Store(): 
 open = 9 
 close = 6

 def hours(self):
    return "We're open between {} and {} " .format(self.open, self.close)
Ryan Malkmus
Ryan Malkmus
2,053 Points
Ryan Malkmus
Ryan Malkmus
2,053 Points

ohhhhh, okay, that makes a lot more sense. Thank you

Ryan Malkmus
Ryan Malkmus
2,053 Points
Ryan Malkmus
Ryan Malkmus
2,053 Points

is it best practice to use "self" in python like it is to use "this" in JavaScript? Do you know what I mean?

Jegnesh Gehlot
Jegnesh Gehlot
5,452 Points
Jegnesh Gehlot
Jegnesh Gehlot
5,452 Points

Ryan, Exactly. According to the treehouse a self instance is defined as : "every method that you create on a class takes, at the very least, the self argument. Self always represents the instance that you're calling the method on. But you don't ever have to pass it in yourself, but you do have to write it."

I hope the above statement makes sense. Please let me know if you need further explanation.

Iain Simmons
MOD
Iain Simmons
Treehouse Moderator 32,305 Points
Iain Simmons
Iain Simmons
Treehouse Moderator 32,305 Points

I believe they also mention that you don't actually have to use the word 'self', you just use whatever you pass into the method as the argument.

It's generally considered best practice to use self, as you suspected. Check out the PEP 8 style guide (also referred to in the Treehouse videos) for more on this and other best practices: http://legacy.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/#function-and-method-arguments