What is self in Python classes

Learn how class states are controlled and tracked using a single word.

In object-oriented programming, a class is a template that defines methods and variables common to all objects of a certain kind. The self word in Python refers to an instance of a class, it is not a keyword and can be replaced by any other name.

#more

Instance methods inside a class have to use self as first argument. It helps the methods to track of and manipulate the class state. As self refers to a class instance, different class instances can have different states such as variable values.

Note that when calling instance methods on an object, self is not used!

Example:

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def fetch_name(self):
        return self.name

    def fetch_age(self):
        return self.age

    def set_age(self, age):
        self.age = age

p = Person("Ross", 30)
print(p.fetch_name())
print(p.fetch_age())

p.set_age(31)  # no self here!
print(p.fetch_age())

Output:

'Ross'
30
31

Manipulating instance variables¶

Instance variables are defined in the __init__() method also known as the class constructor. These variables can be accessed via the class instance object.

Example:

p = Person("Joey", 29)
print(p.name)
p.name = "Jim"
print(p.name)

Output:

'Joey'
'Jim'

Using another name instead of self¶

Surprisingly, self could be replaced by any other name irrespective of method.

But while this is technically possible, the convention is to always call this self.

Example:

class Person:
    def __init__(first_self, name, age):
        first_self.name = name
        first_self.age = age

    def fetch_name(second_self):
        return second_self.name

    def fetch_age(third_self):
        return third_self.age

p = Person("Ross", 30)
print(p.fetch_name())
print(p.fetch_age())

Output:

'Ross'
30