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Python Garbage Collection
Python utilizes automatic memory management through a process known as garbage collection. Garbage collection is responsible for reclaiming memory that is no longer in use by the program, freeing up resources and preventing memory leaks.
Python garbage collection works by using a technique called reference counting. Every object in Python has a reference count, which keeps track of the number of references pointing to that object. When the reference count of an object reaches zero, it means that the object is no longer reachable and can be safely reclaimed.
However, reference counting alone cannot handle all cases of memory management. For example, if there are cyclic references where objects reference each other in a loop, the reference counts would never reach zero, resulting in memory leaks. To address this, Python employs a secondary garbage collection mechanism called “cycle detection” or “tracing garbage collection.”
The cycle detection mechanism periodically runs a cycle detection algorithm that identifies and collects cyclically referenced objects. It traverses the object graph, starting from the root objects (e.g., global variables, objects referenced by the stack frames), and marks objects as “reachable” during the traversal. Any objects not marked as reachable are considered garbage and are eligible for collection.
Python’s garbage collection module provides additional control and customization options for managing the garbage collection process. Some of the notable functions and methods in this module include:
gc.enable(): Enables automatic garbage collection.gc.disable(): Disables automatic garbage collection.gc.collect(): Triggers an immediate garbage collection cycle.gc.get_count(): Returns the current collection counts.gc.get_threshold(): Returns the current collection thresholds.gc.set_threshold(): Sets the collection thresholds.gc.get_objects(): Returns a list of all objects tracked by the garbage collector.
It’s important to note that in most cases, you don’t need to explicitly interact with the garbage collector. Python’s automatic garbage collection mechanism handles memory management transparently for you. However, understanding the basics of garbage collection can be helpful when dealing with certain situations that require fine-tuning or debugging memory-related issues.
Data Hiding
In this tutorial, We are going to learn Data Hiding in python.
In Python, data hiding refers to the concept of making certain attributes or methods of a class inaccessible from outside the class. This is done to encapsulate the internal implementation details of a class and to prevent direct modification or access to sensitive data.
There are two main ways to achieve data hiding in Python: name mangling and convention-based hiding.
1.Name Mangling: Name mangling is a technique that prefixes the name of an attribute with double underscores (__). When Python encounters a double underscore prefix, it automatically modifies the attribute name to include the class name as a prefix. This makes the attribute effectively hidden from outside the class, although it can still be accessed using the mangled name.
Here’s an example:
class MyClass:
def __init__(self):
self.__hidden_attribute = 42
def __hidden_method(self):
print("This is a hidden method.")
obj = MyClass()
print(obj._MyClass__hidden_attribute) # Accessing the hidden attribute
obj._MyClass__hidden_method() # Calling the hidden method
Output:
42
This is a hidden method.Note that using name mangling does not completely prevent access to the hidden attributes or methods, but it serves as a convention to discourage direct access.
2. Convention-Based Hiding: Python does not enforce strict visibility rules like some other languages. Instead, it relies on conventions to indicate the intended visibility of attributes and methods. By convention, a single underscore (_) prefix is used to indicate that an attribute or method should be considered private or hidden.
Here’s an example:
class MyClass:
def __init__(self):
self._hidden_attribute = 42
def _hidden_method(self):
print("This is a hidden method.")
obj = MyClass()
print(obj._hidden_attribute) # Accessing the hidden attribute
obj._hidden_method() # Calling the hidden method
Output:
42
This is a hidden method.Convention-based hiding is more lenient and relies on the developers’ understanding and agreement to respect the convention.
It’s important to note that data hiding in Python is not meant to provide strict access control, but rather to indicate the intended visibility of attributes and methods. Python encourages developers to follow the principle of “we are all consenting adults here,” trusting that they will respect the intended conventions.
Python Destructors
In this tutorial, we will learn Python Destructors
In Python, destructors are special methods that are automatically invoked when an object is about to be destroyed or garbage collected. They are defined using the __del__ method in a class. The destructor is useful for releasing resources, such as closing files or database connections, before an object is destroyed.
Here’s an example that demonstrates the usage of a destructor:
class MyClass:
def __init__(self):
print("Constructor called.")
def __del__(self):
print("Destructor called.")
# Create an instance of MyClass
obj = MyClass()
# The instance is no longer needed
del objIn this example, when you create an instance of MyClass using obj = MyClass(), the constructor __init__ is called and it prints “Constructor called.”. Later, when you delete the obj using del obj, Python invokes the destructor __del__ before destroying the object, and it prints “Destructor called.”.
The __del__ method is automatically invoked when there are no more references to an object, and it’s up to the Python interpreter to determine when exactly that happens. Note that the destructor may not be called immediately after the last reference to the object is removed. The timing depends on the garbage collector and the memory management mechanism used by Python.
It’s important to note that the destructor may not be called immediately after the object is no longer referenced. Python uses a garbage collector that runs periodically to determine which objects are no longer needed and frees their memory. The exact timing of when the destructor is called is therefore not guaranteed.
Additionally, it’s generally recommended to rely on explicit cleanup methods (e.g., close()) rather than destructors to release resources. The __del__ method should be used sparingly, and it’s not the preferred approach for managing resources in Python.
It’s worth noting that in some cases, the __del__ method might not be executed at all, especially in scenarios involving circular references. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious when using destructors and to rely on other means for cleanup when possible.
Python Constructors
In this tutorial, we are going to learn Contructors in Python
In Python, a constructor is a special method that is automatically called when an object of a class is created. Constructors are used to initialize the attributes (properties) of an object. In Python, the constructor method is named __init__().
Here’s an example of a simple constructor in Python:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.age = age
person1 = Person("Alice", 25)
print(person1.name) # Output: Alice
print(person1.age) # Output: 25
In the example above, we define a class called Person. The __init__() method takes three parameters: self, name, and age. The self parameter refers to the instance of the class, and it is automatically passed when an object is created. The name and age parameters are used to initialize the name and age attributes of the object.
When we create an instance of the Person class using the Person("Alice", 25) syntax, the __init__() method is automatically called with the provided arguments. The name and age attributes of the object are then initialized with the corresponding values.
You can also define default values for the constructor parameters, making them optional:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name=None, age=None):
self.name = name
self.age = age
person1 = Person("Alice")
person2 = Person(age=25)
person3 = Person()
print(person1.name, person1.age) # Output: Alice None
print(person2.name, person2.age) # Output: None 25
print(person3.name, person3.age) # Output: None NoneIn this example, we can create instances of the Person class with different combinations of provided arguments or no arguments at all. The attributes name and age will be initialized accordingly, with None as the default value if no argument is provided.
Remember that the self parameter is always required in the constructor method to refer to the instance being created.
Python Abstraction
Abstraction is an important concept in programming, including Python. It is the process of simplifying complex systems by hiding unnecessary details and exposing only the essential features or functionalities. In Python, abstraction can be achieved through the use of abstract classes, interfaces, and encapsulation.
- Abstract Classes: An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated and is meant to be subclassed. It serves as a blueprint for other classes and defines common methods and attributes that its subclasses should implement. Abstract classes can contain both abstract and non-abstract methods. Abstract methods are declared but do not have an implementation in the abstract class itself. Instead, they must be implemented by any concrete subclasses. Python provides the
abcmodule for working with abstract classes. Here’s an example:
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
class Shape(ABC):
@abstractmethod
def area(self):
pass
class Rectangle(Shape):
def __init__(self, length, width):
self.length = length
self.width = width
def area(self):
return self.length * self.width
rect = Rectangle(5, 3)
print(rect.area()) # Output: 15In this example, the Shape class is an abstract class that declares an abstract method area(). The Rectangle class extends the Shape class and provides an implementation for the area() method. An instance of Rectangle can be created and its area() method can be called.
- Interfaces: Although Python does not have built-in support for interfaces like some other programming languages, the concept of interfaces can still be achieved using abstract classes. An interface defines a contract that a class must adhere to, specifying a set of methods that the class must implement. By convention, interfaces in Python are often represented using abstract base classes with all methods declared as abstract methods. Here’s an example:
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
class Printable(ABC):
@abstractmethod
def print(self):
pass
class Document(Printable):
def print(self):
print("Printing document...")
doc = Document()
doc.print() # Output: Printing document...In this example, the Printable abstract class serves as an interface that defines the contract for the print() method. The Document class implements the print() method, fulfilling the contract defined by the Printable interface.
- Encapsulation: Encapsulation is another aspect of abstraction that involves bundling data and methods together within a class and controlling access to them. It allows you to hide the internal implementation details of a class and expose only the necessary methods and attributes to interact with the object. In Python, encapsulation can be achieved by marking attributes or methods as private using the underscore prefix. Here’s an example:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self._name = name
self._age = age
def display_info(self):
print(f"Name: {self._name}, Age: {self._age}")
person = Person("Alice", 25)
person.display_info() # Output: Name: Alice, Age: 25
print(person._name) # Output: Alice (accessing private attribute directly)In this example, the _name and _age attributes are marked as private using the underscore prefix convention. Although Python does not enforce strict privacy, by convention, accessing private attributes or methods should be avoided. The display_info() method provides controlled access to the private attributes and hides the implementation details.
Overall, abstraction in Python allows you to create more modular, maintainable, and extensible code by focusing on the essential aspects
Python Polymorphism
Polymorphism is one of the fundamental principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) and is supported by the Python programming language. It allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. Polymorphism enables you to write code that can work with objects of multiple types, providing flexibility and code reusability.
In Python, polymorphism is typically achieved through method overriding and method overloading.
- Method Overriding: Method overriding occurs when a subclass defines a method that is already present in its superclass with the same name and signature. The overridden method in the subclass replaces the implementation of the method in the superclass, allowing the subclass to provide its own implementation.
Here’s an example:
class Animal:
def sound(self):
print("Animal makes a sound")
class Cat(Animal):
def sound(self):
print("Cat meows")
class Dog(Animal):
def sound(self):
print("Dog barks")
animals = [Cat(), Dog()]
for animal in animals:
animal.sound()
Output:
Cat meows
Dog barksIn the example above, the Animal class has a method called sound(). The Cat and Dog classes inherit from the Animal class and override the sound() method with their own implementations. When we iterate over the animals list and call the sound() method, the appropriate implementation is called based on the actual type of the object.
- Method Overloading (via Function Overloading): Method overloading refers to defining multiple methods with the same name but different parameters or argument types. However, Python does not support method overloading in the same way as languages like Java or C++. Instead, you can achieve a similar effect using default arguments or variable-length arguments.
Here’s an example:
class MathOperations:
def add(self, a, b):
return a + b
def add(self, a, b, c):
return a + b + c
math_ops = MathOperations()
print(math_ops.add(2, 3)) # This will raise an error
# Using variable-length arguments
class MathOperations:
def add(self, *args):
return sum(args)
math_ops = MathOperations()
print(math_ops.add(2, 3)) # Output: 5
print(math_ops.add(2, 3, 4)) # Output: 9In the first example, attempting to call math_ops.add(2, 3) will raise an error because the add() method with two arguments is overwritten by the method with three arguments.
To work around this limitation, you can use variable-length arguments (*args) to define a single add() method that can accept any number of arguments. Inside the method, you can then perform the desired operation, such as summing all the arguments.
Polymorphism allows you to write code that can work with objects of different types, as long as they share a common interface or superclass. This flexibility simplifies code design, promotes code reuse, and makes it easier to extend your programs in the future.
Python Inheritance
In this tutorial we, are going to learn Inheritance concept.
Inheritance is an important concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows you to create new classes (derived classes) based on existing classes (base or parent classes). It is a way to establish a hierarchical relationship between classes, where the derived classes inherit the properties and behaviors of the base class.
The class from which a new class inherits is called the “base class” or “superclass,” and the class that inherits from the base class is called the “derived class” or “subclass.” Inheritance facilitates code reuse and the creation of hierarchical relationships between classes.
To define a class that inherits from another class, you specify the base class name in parentheses after the subclass name in the class definition. Here’s a basic syntax example
In Python, you can implement inheritance using the following syntax:
class BaseClass:
# Base class attributes and methods
class DerivedClass(BaseClass):
# Derived class attributes and methodsHere, DerivedClass is the derived class that inherits from BaseClass. The derived class inherits all the attributes (variables) and methods (functions) from the base class. It can also add new attributes or override existing methods from the base class to customize its behavior.
Let’s see an example:
class Animal:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
def speak(self):
print("Animal speaks.")
class Dog(Animal):
def __init__(self, name):
super().__init__(name)
def speak(self):
print("Dog barks.")
class Cat(Animal):
def __init__(self, name):
super().__init__(name)
def speak(self):
print("Cat meows.")
# Creating instances of derived classes
dog = Dog("Buddy")
dog.speak() # Output: Dog barks.
cat = Cat("Whiskers")
cat.speak() # Output: Cat meows.In this example, we have a base class Animal that has an attribute name and a method speak(). The derived classes Dog and Cat inherit from Animal. They both have their own __init__ method to initialize the name attribute, and they override the speak() method to provide their specific behavior.
When we create instances of Dog and Cat and call their speak() method, the appropriate implementation of the method in the derived class is executed.
Inheritance helps in code reuse, as you can define common attributes and methods in the base class and then extend or specialize them in the derived classes as needed. It promotes code organization, modularity, and flexibility in your program’s design.
Class,Object and Members
In this tutorial we will learn Class, Object and Members in Python.
In Python, classes are used to create objects, which are instances of those classes. Classes serve as blueprints or templates for creating objects with similar characteristics and behaviors. Each object created from a class is called an instance or an object of that class.
A class defines the properties (also known as attributes) and behaviors (also known as methods) that objects of that class will have. Attributes are variables that store data, while methods are functions that define the behavior of the class.
Here’s an example of a simple class definition in Python:
class Car:
def __init__(self, make, model, year):
self.make = make
self.model = model
self.year = year
def start_engine(self):
print("The engine has started.")
def drive(self):
print("The car is being driven.")
def stop_engine(self):
print("The engine has stopped.")In the above example, Car is the class, and make, model, and year are its attributes. The __init__ method is a special method called the constructor, which is executed when an instance of the class is created. It initializes the attributes of the object using the values passed as arguments.
The start_engine, drive, and stop_engine methods are behaviors associated with the Car class. They define the actions that objects of the Car class can perform.
To create an instance of the Car class, you can do the following:
my_car = Car("Toyota", "Camry", 2022)Here, my_car is an object of the Car class. It has the attributes make (set to “Toyota”), model (set to “Camry”), and year (set to 2022). You can access the attributes and call the methods of the object using dot notation, like this:
print(my_car.make) # Output: Toyota
print(my_car.model) # Output: Camry
print(my_car.year) # Output: 2022
my_car.start_engine() # Output: The engine has started.
my_car.drive() # Output: The car is being driven.
my_car.stop_engine() # Output: The engine has stopped.
In summary, classes define the structure and behavior of objects, while objects are instances of those classes. Members refer to the attributes and methods associated with a class or an object. Attributes store data, and methods define the behaviors or actions that can be performed by the class or object.
Python OOPs Concepts
Python supports object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. Here are the main concepts in Python OOP:
1. Classes and Objects: A class is a blueprint for creating objects, while an object is an instance of a class. Classes define the properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) that objects of that class can have.
2. Encapsulation: Encapsulation is the process of bundling data and methods within a class, hiding the internal details and protecting the data from direct manipulation. It is achieved by using access modifiers like public, private, and protected.
3. Inheritance: Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class. The class being inherited from is called the base class or superclass, and the class inheriting from it is called the derived class or subclass. The derived class can extend or override the functionality of the base class.
4. Polymorphism: Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. It enables methods with the same name to be called on different objects, and the appropriate method is executed based on the object’s type. Polymorphism can be achieved through method overriding and method overloading.
5. Method Overriding: Method overriding occurs when a derived class defines a method with the same name as a method in its superclass. The derived class’s method overrides the implementation of the base class method, allowing the derived class to provide its own implementation.
6. Method Overloading: Method overloading enables a class to have multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. Python does not support method overloading directly, but you can achieve similar behavior using default argument values or variable-length argument lists.
7. Abstraction: Abstraction refers to the process of hiding complex implementation details and providing a simplified interface. It allows the user to interact with the objects without needing to know the underlying complexity. Abstract classes and interfaces are used to achieve abstraction in Python.
8. Composition: Composition is a form of association where one class contains an instance of another class as a member. It allows creating complex objects by combining simpler objects. Composition is often used when the relationship between classes is not a “is-a” relationship (as in inheritance) but rather a “has-a” relationship.
These concepts form the foundation of object-oriented programming in Python. By utilizing these concepts, you can create modular, reusable, and maintainable code that models real-world entities effectively.