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Python

Stephen Cole
PLUS
Stephen Cole
Courses Plus Student 15,809 Points
Posted by Stephen Cole
Stephen Cole
Courses Plus Student 15,809 Points

Why doesn't __radd__ need to be explicitly coded? Is it because, by adding, it invokes the __add__ method?

I tested it and it works.

Kenneth says that we should do the "right thing" but I don't understand why the "right thing" works.

2 Answers

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
  • If you have some_object + 4 then some_object.__add__() is called.
  • If you have 4 + some_object, then some_object.__radd__() is called

This is done because objects might behave differently depending on which side of the plus-sign they're on.

If symmetry exists, the having __radd__ call __add__ is a quick solution.

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

Expanding answer:

There are two main choices,:

  • explicitly use the same code in __radd__ as is in __add__ (this is not DRY), or
  • call __add__ to have it do the work for __radd__.

So, yes, It is because __radd__ uses __add__.

Stephen Cole
PLUS
Stephen Cole
Courses Plus Student 15,809 Points
Stephen Cole
Stephen Cole
Courses Plus Student 15,809 Points

Right answer, wrong question.

I know/understand that __radd__ provides for reflective addition.

However, when overriding the __add__ method, I had to define how the addition worked. That is, if there was a period ('.') in the string, make it a float, otherwise, make it an int.

Why is it that I do not have to do the same thing with __radd__?

Is it because __radd__ uses __add__?

Is it because it assumes the type after it gets the first number?

Is there some other magic behind the scenes?

[MOD: added ` around build-in names to protect from formatting as bold]