Python, private variables are variables that are meant to be used only within the class in which they are defined. Private variables are defined by prefixing the variable name with two underscores (__) at the beginning of the variable name.
For example, if you have a class called Person and you want to define a private variable called __age, you would write:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.__age = age
In Above example, __age is a private variable, which can only be accessed within the Person class.
Private variables are working by using name mangling. When you define a variable with two underscores (__) at the beginning of its name, Python changes the name of the variable to include the name of the class. The new name of the variable starts with two underscores, followed by the name of the class, and then the original name of the variable.
For example, in the Person class above, __age would be renamed to _Person__age. This renaming makes it difficult for external code to access the private variable from outside the class.
However, it is important to note that private variables in Python are not truly private, as they can still be accessed from outside the class using the mangled name. Therefore, it is more of a convention to use private variables in Python to indicate that they should not be accessed from outside the class.
To access private variables from outside the class, you can use the mangled name, as mentioned above. However, it is generally not recommended to do so, as it can lead to unexpected behavior in the code.
Here is an example of accessing a private variable from outside the class using the mangled name:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.__age = age
p = Person("John", 30)
print(p._Person__age) # Output: 30
In Above example, we are accessing the private variable __age from outside the class using the mangled name _Person__age.
It is important to note that the use of private variables in Python is more of a convention, rather than a strict rule. Unlike some other programming languages, Python does not have a strict access control mechanism for variables. Instead, Python relies on programmers to follow naming conventions to indicate which variables are intended to be private and which are not.
private variables in Python are variables that are intended to be used only within the class in which they are defined. Private variables are defined by prefixing the variable name with two underscores (__) at the beginning of the variable name. Private variables are implemented using name mangling, which changes the name of the variable to include the name of the class. However, private variables in Python are not truly private, as they can still be accessed from outside the class using the mangled name.
It is worth noting that the use of private variables in Python is primarily for code organization and to prevent accidental modification of variables from outside the class. The main purpose is not to provide security or access control. Therefore, it is still possible to access private variables in Python if one really wants to, although it is considered bad practice.
Here is an example that demonstrates how a private variable can be accessed from outside the class:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.__age = age
p = Person("John", 30)
print(p._Person__age) # Output: 30
p._Person__age = 40
print(p._Person__age) # Output: 40
In Above example, we are accessing the private variable __age from outside the class using the mangled name _Person__age. We are also modifying the value of the private variable, which is not recommended.
In general, it is a good practice to use private variables in Python to indicate that they are not intended to be accessed from outside the class. This can help prevent unintended modifications of the variable and make the code more organized. However, it is important to remember that private variables in Python are not truly private and can still be accessed from outside the class if necessary.
It is also worth mentioning that there is a difference between private variables and protected variables in Python. Protected variables are variables that are intended to be accessed only within the class and its subclasses. Protected variables are defined by prefixing the variable name with a single underscore (_) at the beginning of the variable name.
Here is an example that demonstrates the use of protected variables in Python:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self._age = age
class Student(Person):
def __init__(self, name, age, grade):
super().__init__(name, age)
self.grade = grade
s = Student("John", 18, "A")
print(s._age) # Output: 18
In Above example, we are defining a protected variable _age in the Person class. The Student class inherits from the Person class and can access the protected variable _age.
private variables in Python are variables that are intended to be accessed only within the class in which they are defined. Private variables are defined by prefixing the variable name with two underscores (__) at the beginning of the variable name. Protected variables, on the other hand, are variables that are intended to be accessed only within the class and its subclasses. Protected variables are defined by prefixing the variable name with a single underscore (_) at the beginning of the variable name.
Labels: best practices, private variables, python tutorial
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