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Chapter 10: Problem 10

What is the purpose of the _ _str_ _ method?

Short Answer

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Answer: The `__str__` method in Python is a special method that is used to define how an object should be represented as a human-readable string when printed, converted to a string using the `str()` function, or displayed in the Python shell. It returns a string which is a user-friendly representation of the object. The `__str__` method should be used whenever you want to provide a meaningful and easy-to-read description of your object, making it easier to understand and interpret the object's data. This could include displaying information about the object's state or key attributes.

Step by step solution

01

Purpose of the __str__ method

The `__str__` method in Python is a special method that is used to define how an object should be represented as a human-readable string when printed, converted to a string using the `str()` function or displayed in the Python shell. It returns a string which is a user-friendly representation of the object.
02

When to use the __str__ method

The `__str__` method should be used whenever you want to provide a meaningful and easy-to-read description of your object, making it easier to understand and interpret the object's data. This could include displaying information about the object's state or key attributes. It is important to note that the `__str__` method should not expose sensitive information or be used for debugging purposes. For debugging purposes, you can define the `__repr__` method for an object.
03

Example: Defining __str__ for a custom class

Let's say you have a class `Student` with attributes `name` and `age`. You can define the `__str__` method to display the student's information in a user-friendly manner like this: ```python class Student: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age def __str__(self): return f'Student: {self.name}, Age: {self.age}' ``` Now, when printing a `Student` object or converting it to a string, the output will be easy to read: ```python student1 = Student('John', 17) print(student1) # Output: Student: John, Age: 17 ```

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