Constructor re-initialization issue

[pythonreptile]

Hello all,

I have come across this issue in Python and I cannot quite understand
what is going on.

class Param():
def __init__(self, data={}, condition=False):
if condition:
data['class']="Advanced"
print data

In the previous example, I expect the variable data to be re-
initialized every time I construct an object type Param. However, when
I do the following:

Param(condition=True)
Param(condition=False)

The second call still prints {'class': 'Advanced'}

Shouldn't data be initialized to {} since it is the default in
__init__? Why would the state of data be preserved between two
independent instantiations?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

M.

 

[Mike Kent]

Hello all,

I have come across this issue in Python and I cannot quite understand
what is going on.

class Param():
def __init__(self, data={}, condition=False):
if condition:
data['class']="Advanced"
print data

In the previous example, I expect the variable data to be re-
initialized every time I construct an object type Param. However, when
I do the following:

Param(condition=True)
Param(condition=False)

The second call still prints {'class': 'Advanced'}

Shouldn't data be initialized to {} since it is the default in
__init__? Why would the state of data be preserved between two
independent instantiations?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

M.

This is a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ):
http://www.python.org/doc/faq/general/#why-are-default-values-shared-between-objects

 

[George Sakkis]

Hello all,

I have come across this issue in Python and I cannot quite understand
what is going on.

class Param():
def __init__(self, data={}, condition=False):
if condition:
data['class']="Advanced"
print data

In the previous example, I expect the variable data to be re-
initialized every time I construct an object type Param. However, when
I do the following:

Param(condition=True)
Param(condition=False)

The second call still prints {'class': 'Advanced'}

Shouldn't data be initialized to {} since it is the default in
__init__? Why would the state of data be preserved between two
independent instantiations?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

M.

This must be by far the most FAQ.. unfortunately it seems it will
remain for 3.x as well: http://www.python.org/doc/faq/general/#why-are-default-values-shared-between-objects

 

[pythonreptile]

Hello all,

I have come across this issue in Python and I cannot quite understand
what is going on.

class Param():
def __init__(self, data={}, condition=False):
if condition:
data['class']="Advanced"
print data

In the previous example, I expect the variable data to be re-
initialized every time I construct an object type Param. However, when
I do the following:

The second call still prints {'class': 'Advanced'}

Shouldn't data be initialized to {} since it is the default in
__init__? Why would the state of data be preserved between two
independent instantiations?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

M.

This must be by far the most FAQ.. unfortunately it seems it will
remain for 3.x as well:http://www.python.org/doc/faq/general/#why-are-default-values-shared-...

Thanks for clearing this up for me.

M.