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Instance attributes in Python - Interactive Code Practice

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Practice - 5 Tasks
Answer the questions below
1fill in blank
easy

Complete the code to create an instance attribute named 'color' with value 'red'.

Python
class Car:
    def __init__(self):
        self.[1] = 'red'

my_car = Car()
print(my_car.color)
Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'
Amodel
Bspeed
Ccolor
Dbrand
Attempts:
3 left
💡 Hint
Common Mistakes
Using a different attribute name like 'speed' or 'model' instead of 'color'.
Forgetting to use 'self.' before the attribute name.
2fill in blank
medium

Complete the code to assign the instance attribute 'name' from the constructor parameter.

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

p = Person('Alice')
print(p.name)
Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'
Aid
Bage
Cgender
Dname
Attempts:
3 left
💡 Hint
Common Mistakes
Using a different attribute name like 'age' or 'id' instead of 'name'.
Not using 'self.' before the attribute name.
3fill in blank
hard

Fix the error by completing the code to correctly access the instance attribute 'height'.

Python
class Tree:
    def __init__(self, height):
        self.height = height

my_tree = Tree(10)
print(my_tree.[1])
Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'
Aheight
Bsize
Cheigth
DHeight
Attempts:
3 left
💡 Hint
Common Mistakes
Using incorrect capitalization like 'Height'.
Misspelling the attribute name as 'heigth'.
Using a different attribute name like 'size'.
4fill in blank
hard

Fill both blanks to create an instance attribute 'age' and assign it the value passed as parameter.

Python
class Animal:
    def __init__(self, [1]):
        self.[2] = age

pet = Animal(5)
print(pet.age)
Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'
Aage
Bname
Dcolor
Attempts:
3 left
💡 Hint
Common Mistakes
Using different names for parameter and attribute like 'name' and 'age'.
Forgetting to use 'self.' before the attribute name.
5fill in blank
hard

Fill all three blanks to create an instance attribute 'title' from the parameter and print it.

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

novel = Book('1984')
print(novel.title)
Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'
Atitle
Dname
Attempts:
3 left
💡 Hint
Common Mistakes
Using different names like 'name' instead of 'title'.
Not using 'self.' before the attribute name.

Practice

(1/5)
1. What is an instance attribute in Python classes?
easy
A. A variable shared by all objects of the class
B. A function that belongs to the class
C. A method to create new objects
D. A variable that stores data unique to each object

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand instance attributes

    Instance attributes are variables that belong to each object separately, not shared.
  2. Step 2: Differentiate from class attributes

    Class attributes are shared by all objects, but instance attributes hold unique data per object.
  3. Final Answer:

    A variable that stores data unique to each object -> Option D
  4. Quick Check:

    Instance attribute = unique data per object [OK]
Hint: Instance attributes belong to objects, not the class itself [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing instance attributes with class attributes
  • Thinking methods are attributes
  • Assuming all objects share the same attribute values
2. Which of the following is the correct way to define an instance attribute inside a class?
easy
A. name = "Alice" outside any method
B. def name(self): return "Alice"
C. self.name = "Alice" inside __init__ method
D. class.name = "Alice" inside __init__

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify instance attribute syntax

    Instance attributes are set inside __init__ using self.attribute = value.
  2. Step 2: Check each option

    self.name = "Alice" inside __init__ method uses self.name = "Alice" inside __init__, which is correct. Others are class attributes, methods, or invalid.
  3. Final Answer:

    self.name = "Alice" inside __init__ method -> Option C
  4. Quick Check:

    Instance attribute = self.attribute inside __init__ [OK]
Hint: Use self.attribute = value inside __init__ for instance attributes [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Defining attributes outside __init__ without self
  • Using class.attribute instead of self.attribute
  • Confusing methods with attributes
3. What will be the output of this code?
class Dog:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

dog1 = Dog("Buddy")
dog2 = Dog("Max")
print(dog1.name)
print(dog2.name)
medium
A. Buddy Max
B. Max Buddy
C. Buddy Buddy
D. Max Max

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand instance attribute assignment

    dog1.name is set to "Buddy" and dog2.name is set to "Max" separately.
  2. Step 2: Print instance attributes

    Printing dog1.name outputs "Buddy" and dog2.name outputs "Max".
  3. Final Answer:

    Buddy Max -> Option A
  4. Quick Check:

    Each object has its own name attribute [OK]
Hint: Each object keeps its own attribute values [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Assuming all objects share the same attribute
  • Mixing up the order of print statements
  • Confusing class and instance attributes
4. Find the error in this code:
class Car:
    def __init__(self, model):
        model = model

car = Car("Tesla")
print(car.model)
medium
A. AttributeError because model is not set as instance attribute
B. SyntaxError due to missing self
C. TypeError because __init__ has wrong parameters
D. No error, prints Tesla

Solution

  1. Step 1: Check attribute assignment in __init__

    The code assigns model = model, which only assigns local variable, not instance attribute.
  2. Step 2: Accessing car.model causes error

    Since self.model is never set, car.model does not exist, causing AttributeError.
  3. Final Answer:

    AttributeError because model is not set as instance attribute -> Option A
  4. Quick Check:

    Use self.model = model to set instance attribute [OK]
Hint: Always use self.attribute = value to set instance attributes [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Forgetting self. when assigning attributes
  • Assuming local variable sets instance attribute
  • Expecting attribute to exist without self
5. You want to create a class Book where each book has a title and a list of authors. How do you correctly set instance attributes so each book has its own authors list without sharing it between objects?
hard
A. Set self.authors = None and assign list later
B. Set self.authors = [] inside __init__ method
C. Set self.authors = authors where authors is a default empty list in parameters
D. Set authors = [] as a class attribute outside methods

Solution

  1. Step 1: Avoid shared mutable class attributes

    Setting authors = [] as class attribute shares the same list across all objects, causing bugs.
  2. Step 2: Initialize instance attribute inside __init__

    Setting self.authors = [] inside __init__ creates a new list for each object, avoiding sharing.
  3. Final Answer:

    Set self.authors = [] inside __init__ method -> Option B
  4. Quick Check:

    Mutable instance attributes must be set inside __init__ [OK]
Hint: Initialize mutable attributes inside __init__ to avoid sharing [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Using mutable default arguments in method parameters
  • Defining mutable attributes as class variables
  • Not initializing mutable attributes per instance