Default values in constructors in Python - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to set a default value for the 'color' attribute in the constructor.

Python

class Car:
    def __init__(self, color=[1]):
        self.color = color

my_car = Car()
print(my_car.color)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ANone

B"red"

Cred

D0

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to put quotes around string default values.

Using a variable name without quotes as a default value.

The default value for the 'color' parameter should be a string, so it must be enclosed in quotes.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the constructor to give 'speed' a default value of 0.

Python

class Bike:
    def __init__(self, speed=[1]):
        self.speed = speed

my_bike = Bike()
print(my_bike.speed)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A0

B"0"

CNone

DFalse

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a string '0' instead of the number 0.

Leaving the default value empty.

The default value for 'speed' should be the number 0, not a string.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the constructor by completing the default value for 'name'.

Python

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name=[1]):
        self.name = name

p = Person()
print(p.name)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ANone

B''

C0

D"Unknown"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using None without handling it in the code.

Using a number 0 as a name.

The default name should be a string, so "Unknown" is the best choice.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to set default values for 'width' and 'height' in the constructor.

Python

class Rectangle:
    def __init__(self, width=[1], height=[2]):
        self.width = width
        self.height = height

rect = Rectangle()
print(rect.width, rect.height)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A1

B0

C"0"

D"1"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using strings instead of numbers for default sizes.

Setting default sizes to 0 which might represent no size.

Both width and height should default to the number 1 for a simple rectangle size.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to set default values for 'title', 'author', and 'pages' in the constructor.

Python

class Book:
    def __init__(self, title=[1], author=[2], pages=[3]):
        self.title = title
        self.author = author
        self.pages = pages

book = Book()
print(book.title, book.author, book.pages)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A"Untitled"

B"Anonymous"

C0

DNone

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using None for strings without handling it.

Putting numbers in quotes.

The title and author are strings with default names, and pages is a number defaulting to 0.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using default values in a Python class constructor (__init__ method)?

easy

A. To prevent the class from being instantiated

B. To make the constructor run faster

C. To allow creating objects without providing all arguments

D. To force the user to always provide all arguments

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand default values in constructors

   Default values let you set a value for a parameter if no argument is given when creating an object.

2. Step 2: Identify the effect on object creation

   This means you can create an object without giving all arguments, and the defaults fill in the missing ones.

3. Final Answer:

   To allow creating objects without providing all arguments -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Default values = optional arguments [OK]

Hint: Defaults let you skip arguments when creating objects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking defaults speed up the constructor
• Believing defaults prevent object creation
• Assuming defaults force all arguments

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a default value for the parameter age in a Python class constructor?

easy

A. def __init__(self, age:30):

B. def __init__(self, age): age=30

C. def __init__(self, age): age == 30

D. def __init__(self, age=30):

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Python syntax for default parameters

   Default values are set by assigning a value in the parameter list, like age=30.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   def __init__(self, age=30): uses correct syntax. def __init__(self, age): age=30 tries to assign inside the method header, which is invalid. def __init__(self, age): age == 30 uses comparison operator instead of assignment. def __init__(self, age:30): uses incorrect type hint syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   def __init__(self, age=30): -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Default parameter = param=value [OK]

Hint: Default values go in the parameter list with = [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assigning default inside the method body
• Using == instead of = for defaults
• Confusing type hints with default values

3. What will be the output of this code?

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age=25):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

p = Person('Alice')
print(p.name, p.age)

medium

A. Alice 25

B. Alice None

C. Alice 0

D. Error: missing argument for age

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the constructor parameters

   The constructor has age=25 as a default, so if age is not given, it uses 25.

2. Step 2: Check object creation and print

   We create p = Person('Alice') without age, so age is 25. Printing p.name and p.age shows 'Alice 25'.

3. Final Answer:

   Alice 25 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Missing argument uses default [OK]

Hint: Missing argument uses default value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting error when argument is missing
• Assuming default is None if not given
• Confusing default with zero or empty string

4. Find the error in this class constructor:

class Car:
    def __init__(self, model='Sedan', year):
        self.model = model
        self.year = year

medium

A. Missing return statement in __init__

B. Default parameter must come after non-default parameters

C. self is missing in parameters

D. Cannot assign to self attributes in constructor

Solution

1. Step 1: Check parameter order in constructor

   In Python, parameters with default values must come after parameters without defaults.

2. Step 2: Identify the error in parameter order

   Here, model='Sedan' is a default parameter before year which has no default. This causes a syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Default parameter must come after non-default parameters -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Default params last in list [OK]

Hint: Put all default parameters after non-default ones [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing default parameters before required ones
• Thinking __init__ needs return
• Forgetting self parameter

5. You want to create a class Book where the author defaults to 'Unknown' and pages defaults to 100 if not provided. Which constructor is correct?

hard

A. def __init__(self, author='Unknown', pages=100): self.author = author; self.pages = pages

B. def __init__(self, author, pages=100='Unknown'):

C. def __init__(self, author='Unknown', pages):

D. def __init__(self, author='Unknown', pages=100):

Solution

1. Step 1: Check parameter defaults and order

   Both author and pages have default values, so order is flexible. Options B and C have syntax errors.

2. Step 2: Verify constructor body assigns attributes

   def __init__(self, author='Unknown', pages=100): self.author = author; self.pages = pages correctly sets defaults and assigns self.author and self.pages inside the constructor body.

3. Final Answer:

   def __init__(self, author='Unknown', pages=100): self.author = author; self.pages = pages -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Defaults set in params, assign inside method [OK]

Hint: Set defaults in params, assign inside __init__ [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Incorrect default assignment syntax
• Not assigning parameters to self
• Mixing default values and assignments