What is the purpose of the __init__ method? When does it execute?

The __init__ method in Python is a special method that initializes a new object when it is created. It is the constructor for the class and is automatically called when an object is created from the class. This is an important concept in object-oriented programming, as it enables the object to be initialized with specific attributes and methods that are necessary for its functionality.

The purpose of the __init__ method is to set up the object with its default values and any required resources upon creation, such as setting attributes or initializing variables. By using the __init__ method, objects are ready to use their methods and access their properties safely. It also allows objects to be created in the desired state, which simplifies the code and improves program maintainability.

The __init__ method executes automatically when an object is created from a class. This occurs right after the memory for the object is allocated. It is called only once during the object's creation, and it isn't possible to call the __init__ method explicitly after the object has been created.

Let's consider a simple example of a class and its __init__ method in action. ``` class Student: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age def display_student_info(self): print(f"Name: {self.name}, Age: {self.age}") # Create a new Student object student1 = Student("Alice", 17) # Display the student's information student1.display_student_info() ``` In this example, the `__init__` method sets the `name` and `age` attributes of the `Student` class. When we create a new `Student` object, the `__init__` method is called automatically with the given parameters ("Alice", 17). Then, we can use the `display_student_info()` method to print the student's information, which has been initialized with the provided values by the `__init__` method.