watch this . Answer from Deleted User on reddit.com
W3Schools
w3schools.com › python › gloss_python_self.asp
Python Self
Python Examples Python Compiler ... Training ... The self parameter is a reference to the current instance of the class, and is used to access variables that belongs to the class....
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › self-in-python-class
self in Python class - GeeksforGeeks
January 23, 2026 - In Python, self is a fundamental concept when working with object-oriented programming (OOP). It represents the instance of the class being used. Whenever we create an object from a class, self refers to the current object instance.
python - What is the purpose of the `self` parameter? Why is it needed? - Stack Overflow
Consider this example: class MyClass: def func(self, name): self.name = name I know that self refers to the specific instance of MyClass. But why must func explicitly include self as a More on stackoverflow.com
Python class __init__ and self
My question what do self an init mean in python class? like this: class Complex: def __init__(self, realpart, imagpart): self.r = realpart self.i = imagpart so why I have to do that? And what do that mean? More on discuss.python.org
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October 4, 2024When do you use 'self' in Python? - Stack Overflow
Are you supposed to use self when referencing a member function in Python (within the same module)? More generally, I was wondering when it is required to use self, not just for methods but for More on stackoverflow.com
Understanding classes, init and self
Could you explain this code excerpt? I am learning and trying to get in touch with the logic of classes. class NewWindow(tk.Toplevel): def __init__(self): super().__init__() self.title("Another window") More on discuss.python.org
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February 16, 2024Videos
03:29
What is self in Python? - YouTube
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What exactly is 'self' in Python? [Easy explanation] - YouTube
r/programming on Reddit: The Reason Why "self" is Used in Python ...
02:25
Why self is used in Python classes? - YouTube
06:28
Python interview question #23: What is self? - YouTube
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › can someone explain to me what is self and init in python?
r/learnpython on Reddit: Can Someone explain to me what is self and init in python?
November 29, 2022 -
I tried learning OOP from many video tutorials and documentation but I'm not understanding why we really need it or what is the use of it.
So it would be really helpful if someone could explain to me like a child what is the need for self and init in python.
Also, If you could tell me how did you fully grasp the concept of OOP in Python that would be really beneficial to me.
Thank You.
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I appreciate a good cup of coffee.
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Hello. If you define a function inside a class, it’s called a method. Methods are used by instances of a class. class Demo: def method(self): print(‘test’) demo = Demo() demo.method() # this line above is shorthand for this: Demo.method(self=demo) It’s basically a ‘template’ and shorthand to make useful functions for class instance objects. Init is run each time an object is initialized. You always pass self as the first argument and you’d typically assign any other keyword arguments to the self. class Demo: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age def __repr__(self): return f’This object is named {self.name} and is of age {self.age}’ demo_person = Demo(name=‘Steve’, age= 31) print(demo_person) So the general idea is, provide all the information your object needs in init. Save references to the object, self is just the naming convention. You can change it (please don’t actually use this fact anywhere). And in my example, I used another special method, repr and made use of the name and age passed into init, by using self.name, self.age. Don’t overthink the syntax. It’s just some boilerplate. Focus on the ideas.
Programiz
programiz.com › article › python-self-why
self in Python, Demystified
This is the reason the first parameter of a function in class must be the object itself. Writing this parameter as self is merely a convention. It is not a keyword and has no special meaning in Python. We could use other names (like this) but it is highly discouraged.
W3Schools
w3schools.com › python › python_class_self.asp
Python self Parameter
Python Examples Python Compiler ... Bootcamp Python Certificate Python Training ... The self parameter is a reference to the current instance of the class....
Python documentation
docs.python.org › 3 › reference › datamodel.html
3. Data model — Python 3.14.4 documentation
When an instance method object is derived from a classmethod object, the “class instance” stored in __self__ will actually be the class itself, so that calling either x.f(1) or C.f(1) is equivalent to calling f(C,1) where f is the underlying function.
Python Morsels
pythonmorsels.com › what-is-self
Python's self - Python Morsels
December 28, 2020 - Python's self is really just a variable that points to the current instance of our class. Every method you define must accept self as its first argument.
Edureka
edureka.co › blog › self-in-python
Self in Python Class | What is the Use of Python Self?
December 5, 2024 - The self in Python is used to represent the instance of the class. With this Self keyword in Python, you can access the attributes and methods of the class.
Real Python
realpython.com › ref › glossary › self
self (argument) | Python Glossary – Real Python
In Python, self is a widely followed convention for naming the first argument in instance methods within a class.
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The reason you need to use self is because Python does not use special syntax to refer to instance attributes. Python decided to do methods in a way that makes the instance to which the method belongs be passed automatically but not received automatically, the first parameter of methods is the instance the method is called on. That makes methods entirely the same as functions and leaves the actual name to use up to you (although self is the convention, and people will generally frown at you when you use something else.) self is not special to the code, it's just another object.
Python could have done something else to distinguish normal names from attributes -- special syntax like Ruby has, or requiring declarations like C++ and Java do, or perhaps something yet more different -- but it didn't. Python's all for making things explicit, making it obvious what's what, and although it doesn't do it entirely everywhere, it does do it for instance attributes. That's why assigning to an instance attribute needs to know what instance to assign to, and that's why it needs self.
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Let's say you have a class ClassA which contains a method methodA defined as:
class ClassA:
def methodA(self, arg1, arg2):
... # do something
and objectA is an instance of this class.
Now when objectA.methodA(arg1, arg2) is called, python internally converts it for you as:
ClassA.methodA(objectA, arg1, arg2)
The self variable refers to the object itself.
Python documentation
docs.python.org › 3 › tutorial › classes.html
9. Classes — Python 3.14.4 documentation
A piece of Python code that expects a particular abstract data type can often be passed a class that emulates the methods of that data type instead. For instance, if you have a function that formats some data from a file object, you can define a class with methods read() and readline() that get the data from a string buffer instead, and pass it as an argument. Instance method objects have attributes, too: m.__self__ is the instance object with the method m(), and m.__func__ is the function object corresponding to the method.
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[image] Not Available:
Typically, people define the method using a first variable name of this but that is merely a convention.
Sorry, I may be missing something here, or this is a typo. It is extremely rare to call the argument representing the instance anything other than self. It is such a…
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__init__ is a function that initializes the class when it is instantiated. So when you call my_object = Complex() and create my_object, __init__ gets called and can be used to precalculate things the class will use later for that specific object, setup attributes the class expects when other methods…
Real Python
realpython.com › python-type-self
Python's Self Type: How to Annotate Methods That Return self – Real Python
June 10, 2023 - Due to its intuitive and concise syntax, as defined by PEP 673, the Self type is the preferred annotation for methods that return an instance of their class. The Self type can be imported directly from Python’s typing module in version 3.11 and beyond.
Scaler
scaler.com › home › topics › self in python class
Self in Python Class - How to Use Self in Python? | Scaler Topics
February 9, 2024 - In Python, self serves as a reference to the current class instance, enabling access and modification of its attributes and methods. When defining class methods, it is crucial to ensure Python knows to look within the class scope for attributes ...
Python
peps.python.org › pep-0673
PEP 673 – Self Type - Python Enhancement Proposals
November 10, 2021 - A common use case is to write a method that returns an instance of the same class, usually by returning self.
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › why-python-uses-self-as-default-argument
Why Python Uses 'Self' as Default Argument - GeeksforGeeks
September 20, 2025 - In Python, when defining methods inside a class, first parameter is always self. It is not a keyword, but a naming convention that plays a key role in Python’s object-oriented programming.
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Adding an answer because Oskarbi's isn't explicit.
You use self when:
- Defining an instance method. It is passed automatically as the first parameter when you call a method on an instance, and it is the instance on which the method was called.
- Referencing a class or instance attribute from inside an instance method. Use it when you want to call a method or access a name (variable) on the instance the method was called on, from inside that method.
You don't use self when
- You call an instance method normally. Using Oskarbi's example, if you do
instance = MyClass(), you callMyClass.my_methodasinstance.my_method(some_var)not asinstance.my_method(self, some_var). - You reference a class attribute from outside an instance method but inside the class definition.
- You're inside a staticmethod.
These don'ts are just examples of when not to use self. The dos are when you should use it.
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Use self to refer to instance variables and methods from other instance methods. Also put self as the first parameter in the definition of instance methods.
An example:
class MyClass(object):
my_var = None
def my_method(self, my_var):
self.my_var = my_var
self.my_other_method()
def my_other_method(self):
# do something...
Educative
educative.io › answers › what-is-self-in-python
What is self in Python?
In Python, the first argument of ... is the convention used by Python developers. It allows each method to access instance variables and other methods belonging to that instance....
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A key point that others have referred to but I want to emphasize a bit more, as it seems to be at the root of a lot of your confusion here and is crucial for understanding what’s going on here, is understanding the difference between a class and an instance of a class. Let’s suppose we have the foll…
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The __init__ method initialises a new instance (object) of the class NewWindow. The actual creation of the instance is done by a separate method __new__, before __init__ is called. See the documentation for more details.
In the __init__ method the first statement, super().__init__(), is a call to t…
MicroPyramid
micropyramid.com › blog › understand-self-and-__init__-method-in-python-class
Understanding Self and __init__ Method in Python Class | MicroPyramid
Understand self and __init__ method in python Class? self represents the instance of the class. By using the self keyword we can access the attributes and methods of the class in python.