__init__ Method
Object initialization
Interview Relevant: Constructor in Python
__init__ Method
Initialize new objects (constructor).
Code Examples
The __init__ constructor method.
python
1class Person:
2 def __init__(self, name, age=0):
3 self.name = name
4 self.age = age
5 self.friends = [] # Default mutable
6
7# Required and optional args
8p1 = Person("Alice", 25)
9p2 = Person("Bob") # age defaults to 0
10
11# __init__ vs __new__
12# __new__ creates the instance
13# __init__ initializes it
14
15class Singleton:
16 _instance = None
17
18 def __new__(cls):
19 if cls._instance is None:
20 cls._instance = super().__new__(cls)
21 return cls._instance