Python class keyword

Python class keyword is used to designate that a given block of code is a class in Python programming.

A class is like a blueprint or a template for creating objects. It encapsulates data and functions (known as methods) that operate on that data.

Defining a simple class

The class keyword is used to define a new class, followed by the name of the class. To define a class named Car, you would write:

class Car:
    pass

Here, the pass statement is a placeholder that indicates an empty class definition.

Inside the class, you can define attributes (variables) and methods (functions) that describe the behaviour and characteristics of objects instantiated from this class.

class Car:
    def __init__(self, brand, model):
        self.brand = brand
        self.model = model

    def get_full_name(self):
        return f"{self.brand} {self.model}"

Creating Objects

Once we have defined a class, you can create objects or instances of that class by calling the class name as if it were a function.

For instance:

my_car = Car("Toyota", "Camry")
print(my_car.get_full_name())

In this example, my_car is an instance of the Car class. You can. pass the values “Toyota” and “Camry” as arguments to the constructor, which sets the object’s attributes accordingly.

Attributes and Methods

Classes can have attributes, which are variables associated with the class or its instances, and methods, which are functions that define the behaviour of the class.

Let’s enhance our Car class with some attributes and methods:

class Car:
    def __init__(self, color, make, model):
        self.color = color
        self.make = make
        self.model = model

    def start_engine(self):
        print('Engine started!')

    def accelerate(self, speed):
        print(f'The car accelerates to {speed} mph.')

    def brake(self):
        print('Brakes applied.')

In this updated Car class, we have an __init__ method, which is a special method called the constructor.

It initializes the object’s attributes when the object is created.

The self parameter refers to the instance of the class, allowing us to access its attributes and methods.

Conclusion

No doubt, classes serve as the foundation for implementing object-oriented programming. You have learned how to define classes using the Python class keyword and how to create objects from classes.