Using self is a design decision by python, not strictly mandatory from a language design point of view, to make explicit the instance object and distinguish instance variables from local variables.

The self keyword is used to represent an instance (object) of the given class. In this case, the two Cat objects cat1 and cat2 have their own name and age attributes.

The self parameter is a reference to the current instance of the class, and is used to access variables that belongs to the class. It does not have to be named self , you can call it whatever …

Jul 11, 2025 · What is the Purpose of "self"? In Python, self is used as the first parameter in instance methods to refer to the current object. It allows methods within the class to access …

May 21, 2025 · The concept of "self" is fundamental to Python‘s object-oriented programming, yet it often trips up both beginners and experienced developers. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll …

Nov 14, 2025 · What Does self Mean in Python? In Python, self is a convention (although it can be named anything, but self is widely used) used as the first parameter in instance methods of …

In Python, self is a widely followed convention for naming the first argument in instance methods within a class. It represents the instance on which the method is being called, allowing access …

Jan 21, 2025 · In Python, self is a reference to the instance of the class. When an instance of a class is created, Python automatically passes this reference to the instance methods of the class.

When learning Python’s object-oriented programming (OOP) features, one of the most frequently encountered (and often misunderstood) terms is self. It appears in every method inside a …

May 13, 2025 · The ‘self’ key in Python is used to represent the instance of a class. With this keyword, you can access the attributes and methods of a particular Python class.