Python object() Tutorial (With Examples)

In Python, the object() function is a built-in function that returns a new empty object. It is the base class for all classes in Python. Understanding the object() function is fundamental to comprehending object-oriented programming concepts in Python. In this tutorial, we will explore the object() function in detail, providing explanations, use cases, and multiple examples.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to object()
2. Creating an Empty Object
3. Using object() as a Base Class
4. Examples of object() Usage
   • Example 1: Creating and Using an Empty Object
   • Example 2: Using object() as a Base Class
5. Conclusion

1. Introduction to object()

In Python, everything is an object. Objects are instances of classes, which define the structure and behavior of the data they encapsulate. The object() function is the base class for all classes, meaning every class in Python implicitly or explicitly inherits from the object class. The object() function returns a new instance of the base class, which is essentially an empty object with no attributes or methods.

2. Creating an Empty Object

Creating an empty object using the object() function is straightforward. The syntax is simple: obj = object(). This creates a new instance of the object class and assigns it to the variable obj. This object doesn’t have any properties or methods by default, but it can be used as a starting point to build more complex classes and objects.

# Creating an empty object
obj = object()

# Checking the type of the object
print(type(obj))  # Output: <class 'object'>

3. Using object() as a Base Class

One of the primary uses of the object() function is as a base class for other classes. In Python, when a class doesn’t explicitly inherit from any other class, it automatically inherits from object. This inheritance provides certain default behaviors and methods to the derived class.

When you create a new class and omit any other superclass, Python assumes that you intend to inherit from object(). Here’s an example:

class MyEmptyClass:
    pass

# The above class is implicitly inheriting from `object`
obj_instance = MyEmptyClass()

print(isinstance(obj_instance, object))  # Output: True

4. Examples of object() Usage

Example 1: Creating and Using an Empty Object

Let’s say you want to create a simple class to represent a point in a Cartesian coordinate system. You can start with an empty object created using the object() function and then add attributes and methods to it.

class Point:
    def __init__(self, x, y):
        self.x = x
        self.y = y

    def display(self):
        print(f"Point coordinates: ({self.x}, {self.y})")

# Creating an instance of the Point class
point_obj = Point(3, 4)
point_obj.display()  # Output: Point coordinates: (3, 4)

Example 2: Using object() as a Base Class

Let’s create a simple class called Person that inherits from the object() base class. We’ll add some attributes to the class and a method to introduce the person.

class Person(object):
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def introduce(self):
        print(f"Hello, my name is {self.name} and I am {self.age} years old.")

# Creating an instance of the Person class
person = Person("Alice", 30)
person.introduce()  # Output: Hello, my name is Alice and I am 30 years old.

5. Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored the object() function in Python, which is the base class for all classes. We learned how to create an empty object using object(), and we saw how it can be used as a base class for other classes. The object() function serves as the foundation of object-oriented programming in Python, and understanding its role is crucial for building and working with classes and objects effectively.

By using the object() function, you can create a solid starting point for your custom classes, adding attributes and methods to define the behavior of your objects. This flexibility allows you to harness the power of object-oriented programming to create clean, organized, and reusable code.

Remember that while the object() function itself might not be used extensively in day-to-day programming, it underpins the entire object-oriented paradigm in Python. As you continue your journey in Python programming, you’ll encounter a wide range of classes and objects that make use of the concepts we’ve covered in this tutorial.