Methods are functions that are defined as part of a class. The first argument in a method is always the object that is calling the method. Convention recommends that we name this first argument self
. Methods always have at least this one argument.
We define methods similarly to functions, except that they are indented to be part of the class.
class Dog: dog_time_dilation = 7 def time_explanation(self): print("Dogs experience {} years for every 1 human year.".format(self.dog_time_dilation)) pipi_pitbull = Dog() pipi_pitbull.time_explanation() # Prints "Dogs experience 7 years for every 1 human year."
Above we created a Dog
class with a time_explanation
method that takes one argument, self
, which refers to the object calling the function. We created a Dog
named pipi_pitbull
and called the .time_explanation()
method on our new object for Pipi.
Notice we didn’t pass any arguments when we called .time_explanation()
, but were able to refer to self
in the function body. When you call a method it automatically passes the object calling the method as the first argument.
Instructions
At Jan van High, the students are constantly calling the school rules into question. Create a Rules
class so that we can explain the rules.
Give Rules
a method washing_brushes
that returns the string .
"Point bristles towards the basin while washing your brushes."