Why do we add the self parameter when defining a method in Python

Question

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Why do you need explicitly have the “self” argument into a Python method?

Why do I have to add this self parameter

    def function(self):

Answer 1

Because when you define a method inside a class, it automatically creates a descriptor that passes the object instance as the first parameter. If you want to avoid this, use the @staticmethod decorator, or just define your functions outside the class.

As for why the language is designed this way, it wouldn't make sense to do it otherwise in a language without explicit variable creation. If you do a=2, how do you know whether it should be a local or an instance variable? Also, passing it explicitly is just a more elegant design in general.

Answer 2

Explicit is better than implicit.