CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythoninheritanceconstructorinit
Adam Matan
Adam Matan

Reputation: 136141

Python: Inherit the superclass __init__

I have a base class with a lot of __init__ arguments:

class BaseClass(object):
    def __init__(self, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        self._a=a+b
        self._b=b if b else a
        ...

All the inheriting classes should run __init__ method of the base class.

I can write a __init__() method in each of the inheriting classes that would call the superclass __init__, but that would be a serious code duplication:

class A(BaseClass):
    def __init__(self, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        super(A, self).__init__(a, b, c, d, e, f, ...)

class B(BaseClass):
    def __init__(self, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        super(A, self).__init__(a, b, c, d, e, f, ...)

class C(BaseClass):
    def __init__(self, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        super(A, self).__init__(a, b, c, d, e, f, ...)

...

What's the most Pythonic way to automatically call the superclass __init__?

Upvotes: 87

Views: 94356

Answers (7)

avielbl
avielbl

Reputation: 303

Perhaps a clearer implementation for your case is using **kwargs combined with new added arguments in your derived class as in:

class Parent:
    def __init__(self, a, b, c):
        self.a = a
        self.b = b
        self.c = c


class Child(Parent):
    def __init__(self, d, **kwargs):
        super(Child, self).__init__(**kwargs)
        self.d = d

By this method you avoid the code duplication but preserve the implicit addition of arguments in your derived class.

Upvotes: 16

Aashutosh jha
Aashutosh jha

Reputation: 618

In 2.6 and lower version to inherit init from base class, there is no super function, You can inherit below way:

class NewClass():
     def __init__():
         BaseClass.__init__(self, *args)

Upvotes: 2

Ben
Ben

Reputation: 401

Adding a Pythonic implementation. Assuming you want all attributes passed in, you can use the code below. (Can also keep/remove specific kwargs keys if you want a subset).

def A(BaseClass):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        for key, value in kwargs.items():
            setattr(self, key, value)

base = BaseClass(...)
new = A( **base.__dict__ )

Upvotes: 0

Ryan Ye
Ryan Ye

Reputation: 3259

You have to write it explicitly, but on the other hand, if you have lots of args, you should probably use *args for positional args and **kwargs for keyword args.

class SubClass(BaseClass):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(SubClass, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        # SubClass initialization code

Another technique you could use is to minimize the code in init and then at the end of init function, call another custom function. Then in the subclass, you just need to override the custom function

class BaseClass(object):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        # initialization code
        self._a = kwargs.get('a')
        ...
        # custom code for subclass to override
        self.load()

    def load():
        pass

class SubClass(BaseClass)
    def load():
        # SubClass initialization code
        ...

Upvotes: 45

user2665694
user2665694

Reputation: 

super(SubClass, self).__init__(...)

Consider using *args and **kw if it helps solving your variable nightmare.

Upvotes: 62

pillmuncher
pillmuncher

Reputation: 10162

If the derived classes don't implement anything beyond what the base class __init__() already does, just omit the derived classes __init__() methods - the base class __init__() is then called automatically.

If, OTOH, your derived classes add some extra work in their __init__(), and you don't want them to explicitly call their base class __init__(), you can do this:

class BaseClass(object):
    def __new__(cls, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        new = object.__new__(cls)
        new._a=a+b
        new._b=b if b else a
        ...
        return new

class A(BaseClass):
    ''' no __init__() at all here '''

class B(BaseClass):
    def __init__(self, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        ''' do stuff with init params specific to B objects '''

Since __new__() is always called automatically, no further work is required in the derived classes.

Upvotes: 21

Rob Cowie
Rob Cowie

Reputation: 22619

Unless you are doing something useful in the subclass __init__() methods, you don't have to override it.

def BaseClass(object):
    def __init__(self, a, b, c, d, e, f, ...):
        self._a=a+b
        self._b=b if b else a
        ...

def A(BaseClass):
    def some_other_method(self):
        pass

def B(BaseClass):
    pass

Upvotes: 14

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