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Python Basic Object-Oriented Python Welcome to OOP Adding to our Panda

Posted by shrihanacharya
shrihanacharya
6,958 Points

Self question

Why do I have to include “self.” before the food variable if it’s a class attribute?

panda.py 
class Panda:
    species = 'Ailuropoda melanoleuca'
    food = 'bamboo'

    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.is_hungry = True
        self.age = age
        self.name = name

    def eat(self):
        self.is_hungry = False
        return f'{self.name} eats {self.food}.'

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

It is because it is a class attribute that you use the "self." prefix. Without the prefix, it would refer to a local or a global variable (or cause an error if neither existed).

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

shrihanacharya — Glad I could help. You can mark a question solved by choosing a "best answer".
And happy coding!

shrihanacharya
shrihanacharya
6,958 Points
shrihanacharya
shrihanacharya
6,958 Points

Ohh ok. I assumed that the self. prefix only refers to instance attributes. I guess treehouse didn’t mention that in their lessons.