Difference between attributes and properties in Python
Last Updated : 20 Aug, 2020
Class Attribute: Class Attributes are unique to each class. Each instance of the class will have this attribute.
Example:
Python3 # declare a class class Employee: # class attribute count = 0 # define a method def increase(self): Employee.count += 1 # create an Employee # class object a1 = Employee() # calling object's method a1.increase() # print value of class attribute print(a1.count) a2 = Employee() a2.increase() print(a2.count) print(Employee.count)
Output:
1 2 2
In the above example, count variable is a class attribute.
Instance Attribute: Instance Attributes are unique to each instance, (an instance is another name for an object). Every object/instance has its own attribute and can be changed without affecting other instances.
Example:
Python3 # create a class class Employee: # constructor def __init__(self): # instance attribute self.name = 'Gfg' self.salary = 4000 # define a method def show(self): print(self.name) print(self.salary) # create an object of # Employee class x = Employee() # method calling x.show()
Output:
Gfg 4000
Now, Let's see an example on properties:
1) Create Properties of a class using property() function:
Syntax: property(fget, fset, fdel, doc)
Example:
Python3 # create a class class gfg: # constructor def __init__(self, value): self._value = value # getting the values def getter(self): print('Getting value') return self._value # setting the values def setter(self, value): print('Setting value to ' + value) self._value = value # deleting the values def deleter(self): print('Deleting value') del self._value # create a properties value = property(getter, setter, deleter, ) # create a gfg class object x = gfg('Happy Coding!') print(x.value) x.value = 'Hey Coder!' # deleting the value del x.value Output:
Getting value Happy Coding! Setting value to Hey Coder! Deleting value
2) Create Properties of a class Using @property decorator:
We can apply the property function by using @property decorator. This is one of the built-in decorators. A decorator is simply a function that takes another function as an argument and adding to its behavior by wrapping it.
Example:
Python3 # create a class class byDeco: # constructor def __init__(self, value): self._value = value # getting the values @property def value(self): print('Getting value') return self._value # setting the values @value.setter def value(self, value): print('Setting value to ' + value) self._value = value # deleting the values @value.deleter def value(self): print('Deleting value') del self._value # create an object of class x = byDeco('happy Coding') print(x.value) x.value = 'Hey Coder!' # deleting the value del x.value Output:
Getting value happy Coding Setting value to Hey Coder! Deleting value
Table of difference between Attribute V/s Property
Attribute | Property |
|---|
| Attributes are described by data variables for example like name, age, height etc. | Properties are special kind of attributes. |
| Two types of attributes: - Class attribute
- Instance attribute
| It has getter, setter and delete methods like __get__, __set__ and __delete__ methods. |
| Class attributes are defined in the class body parts usually at the top. | We can define getters, setters, and delete methods with the property() function. |
| Instance attribute are defined in the class body using self keyword usually it the __init__() method. | If we just want to the read property, there is also a @property decorator which you can add above your method. |
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