🧑‍🎓 A Cool Python Tip: How to Access Class Variables? 🐍

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🌟 Scenario:
Imagine you have a variable in a class and want to access it in a method. For example:

class MyClass:
    my_variable = "I am a class variable"

    def my_method(self):
        return f"Accessing variable: {self.my_variable}"

# Test
obj = MyClass()
print(obj.my_method())

📤 Output: Accessing variable: I am a class variable

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🔍 Explanation:
- In this example, my_method is a regular instance method with the self argument.
- You can access the class variable with self.my_variable, but you need to create an instance of the class (obj = MyClass()).
- What if you want to access it without creating an instance? That’s where @classmethod comes in! 👇

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💡 Better Way with @classmethod:
If you want to access the variable directly using the class name, use @classmethod:

class MyClass:
    my_variable = "I am a class variable"

    @classmethod
    def my_method(cls):
        return f"Accessing variable: {cls.my_variable}"

# Test
print(MyClass.my_method())

📤 Output: Accessing variable: I am a class variable

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🔑 What’s the Difference?
- In the first case (regular method), you need to create an instance to call the method.
- In the second case (with @classmethod), you can call the method directly with the class name (MyClass.my_method()) and cls gives you access to class variables.
- Another option is @staticmethod, but you’d have to manually write the class name (e.g., MyClass.my_variable).

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🎯 Takeaway:
- If you want to work with an instance ➡️ Use a regular method with self.
- If you want to work directly with the class ➡️ Use @classmethod.

Which method do you like more? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 🗣️

💬 https://t.iss.one/DataScienceQ

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