Python Naming

This is about how things are named in Python.

Classes

• class object: the raw class itself (not instantiated) (see here)

• instance object or instance of a class: an instantiated class like x = MyClass() (see here)
  an instance object has two kinds of valid attribute names:

  • data attributes: are variables belonging to the instance, attributes need not be declared - like local variables - they spring into existence when they are first assigned to

  • methods: method is a function that “belongs to” an object

• class variables: for attributes (and methods) shared by all instances of a class (see here)

• instance variables: for data unique to each instance (see here)

classmethod

see https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/class-method-vs-static-method-python/

staticmethod

see https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/class-method-vs-static-method-python/

constructor vs. initializer vs. allocator (__init__)

see https://stackoverflow.com/a/6578504