Question on class member in python

[Alex Martelli]

Johnny Lee <johnnyandfiona at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Alex Martelli ???

Now that's a peculiar question...


> > Johnny Lee <johnnyandfiona at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > But I still wonder what's the difference between the A().getMember and
> > > A().member besides the style
> >
> > Without parentheses after it, getMember is a method.  The difference
> > between a method object and an integer object (which is what member
> > itself is in your example) are many indeed, so your question is very
> > strange.  You cannot call an integer, you cannot divide methods, etc.
> >
> >
> > Alex
> 
> Sorry, I didn't express myself clear to you. I mean:
> b = A().getMember()
> c = A().member
> what's the difference between b and c? If they are the same, what's the
> difference in the two way to get the value besides the style.

If getMember's body is nothing but a 'return self.member', then there is
no difference -- 'assert b is c'.

What is the difference between:

x = 2

and 

y = 2+2-2*2/2

???  Answer: in terms of final results, no difference.  On the other
hand, the second approach does a lot of obviously useless and intricate
computation, so it's a sheer waste of time and effort.

Exactly the same answer applies to your question -- obtaining the
.member attribute "indirectly", by calling a method that returns it,
does some obviously useless and moderately intricate computation, which
in some ways is a waste of (some) time and effort.  That's all!


Alex