[Python-ideas] "on" statement

[Nick Coghlan]

Robert Madole wrote:
> So I just wrote my 1-gazillionth "if hasattr('method', my_object):"
> and wanted badly to write this.
> 
> if 'method' on my_object:
> 
> I'm not the most experienced Python user, but as far as I can tell
> hasattr is the preferred way of checking if a method exists.
> 
> Please correct me if there is a better way

Most Python code should just assume the method is present and let the
AttributeError fly if it isn't.

If you genuinely need to check for presence of a method, then either
catching the AttributeError or using hasattr is fine.

This is a relatively rare requirement though, so the chance of getting
dedicated syntax (and a new keyword, no less!) to support it is
basically nil.

Cheers,
Nick.

-- 
Nick Coghlan   |   ncoghlan at gmail.com   |   Brisbane, Australia
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