Python Class Variables

In Python, class variables (also known as class attributes) are shared across all instances (objects) of a class. They belong to the class itself, not to any specific instance.

In Object-oriented programming, we use instance and class variables to design a Class.

In Class, attributes can be defined into two parts:

• Instance variables: If the value of a variable varies from object to object, then such variables are called instance variables.
• Class Variables: A class variable is a variable that is declared inside of a Class but outside of any instance method or __init__() method.

After reading this article, you’ll learn:

• How to create and access class variables
• Modify values of class variables
• Instance variable vs. class variables
• The behavior of a class variable in inheritance

What is Class Variable in Python?

If the value of a variable is not varied from object to object, such types of variables are called class or static variables.

All instances of a class share class variables. Unlike instance variable, the value of a class variable is not varied from object to object,

In Python, class variables are declared when a class is being constructed. They are not defined inside any method of a class. Because of this, only one copy of the static variable will be created and shared between all class objects.

For example, in the Student class, we can have different instance variables such as name and roll number because each student’s name and roll number are different.

But, if we want to include the school name in the student class, we must use the class variable instead of an instance variable because the school name is the same for all students. So, instead of maintaining a separate copy in each object, we can create a class variable that will hold the school name so all students (objects) can share it.

We can add any number of class variables in a class.

Create Class Variables

A class variable is declared inside of a class, but outside of any instance method or __init__() method.

You can use the class name or the instance to access a class variable.

By convention, typically, it is placed right below the class header and before the constructor method and other methods.

Example:

class Student:
    # Class variable
    school_name = 'ABC School '
    
    def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
        self.name = name
        self.roll_no = roll_no

# create first object
s1 = Student('Emma', 10)
print(s1.name, s1.roll_no, Student.school_name)
# access class variable

# create second object
s2 = Student('Jessa', 20)
# access class variable
print(s2.name, s2.roll_no, Student.school_name)

Output

Emma 10 ABC School
Jessa 20 ABC School 

In the above example, we created the class variable school_name and accessed it using the object and class name.

Note: Like regular variables, class variables can store data of any type. We can use Python list, tuple, and dictionary as a class variable.

Accessing Class Variables

We can access class variables by class name or object reference, but it is recommended to use the class name.

In Python, we can access the class variable in the following places

• Access inside the constructor by using either self parameter or class name.
• Access class variable inside instance method by using either self of class name
• Access from outside of class by using either object reference or class name.

Example 1: Access Class Variable in the constructor

class Student:
    # Class variable
    school_name = 'ABC School '

    # constructor
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
        # access class variable inside constructor using self
        print(self.school_name)
        # access using class name
        print(Student.school_name)

# create Object
s1 = Student('Emma')

Output

ABC School 
ABC School

In this example, we accessed the class variable school_name using class name and a self keyword inside a method.

Example 2: Access Class Variable in Instance method and outside class

class Student:
    # Class variable
    school_name = 'ABC School '

    # constructor
    def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
        self.name = name
        self.roll_no = roll_no

    # Instance method
    def show(self):
        print('Inside instance method')
        # access using self
        print(self.name, self.roll_no, self.school_name)
        # access using class name
        print(Student.school_name)

# create Object
s1 = Student('Emma', 10)
s1.show()

print('Outside class')
# access class variable outside class
# access using object reference
print(s1.school_name)

# access using class name
print(Student.school_name)

Output

Inside instance method
Emma 10 ABC School 
ABC School 

Outside class
ABC School 
ABC School 

Modify Class Variables

Generally, we assign value to a class variable inside the class declaration. However, we can change the value of the class variable either in the class or outside of class.

Note: It is recommended to change the class variable’s value using the class name.

If you modify a class variable using an instance, it doesn’t change the class variable itself. Instead, it creates an instance variable with the same name that shadows (or hides) the class variable for that instance.

Example:

class Student:
    # Class variable
    school_name = 'ABC School '

    # constructor
    def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
        self.name = name
        self.roll_no = roll_no

    # Instance method
    def show(self):
        print(self.name, self.roll_no, Student.school_name)

# create Object
s1 = Student('Emma', 10)
print('Before')
s1.show()

# Modify class variable
Student.school_name = 'XYZ School'
print('After')
s1.show()

Output:

Before
Emma 10 ABC School 

After
Emma 10 XYZ School

class Student:
    # Class variable
    school_name = 'ABC School '

    # constructor
    def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
        self.name = name
        self.roll_no = roll_no

# create Objects
s1 = Student('Emma', 10)
s2 = Student('Jessa', 20)

print('Before')
print(s1.name, s1.roll_no, s1.school_name)
print(s2.name, s2.roll_no, s2.school_name)

# Modify class variable using object reference
s1.school_name = 'PQR School'
print('After')
print(s1.name, s1.roll_no, s1.school_name)
print(s2.name, s2.roll_no, s2.school_name)

Before
Emma 10 ABC School 
Jessa 20 ABC School 

After
Emma 10 PQR School
Jessa 20 ABC School 

Class Variable vs. Instance variables

The following table shows the difference between the instance and class variables.

In Python, properties can be defined into two parts:

• Instance variables: The instance variable’s value varies from object to object. Objects do not share instance variables. Every object has its copy of the instance attribute.
• Class Variables: A class variable is a variable that is declared inside of a class but outside of any instance method or init() method. Class variables are shared by all instances of a class.

Read More: Instance variables in Python with Examples

Example:

Let’s see the example to create a class variable and instance variable.

class Car:
    # Class variable
    manufacturer = 'BMW'

    def __init__(self, model, price):
        # instance variable
        self.model = model
        self.price = price

# create Object
car = Car('x1', 2500)
print(car.model, car.price, Car.manufacturer)

Output:

x1 2500 BMW

Class Variables In Inheritance

As you know, only one copy of the class variable will be created and shared between all objects of that class.

When we use inheritance, all variables and methods of the base class are available to the child class. In such cases, We can also change the value of the parent class’s class variable in the child class.

We can use the parent class or child class name to change the value of a parent class’s class variable in the child class.

Example

class Course:
    # class variable
    course = "Python"

class Student(Course):

    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def show_student(self):
        # Accessing class variable of parent class
        print('Before')
        print("Student name:", self.name, "Course Name:", Student.course)
        # changing class variable value of base class
        print('Now')
        Student.course = "Machine Learning"
        print("Student name:", self.name, "Course Name:", Student.course)

# creating object of Student class
stud = Student("Emma")
stud.show_student()

Output

Before
Student name: Emma Course Name: Python

Now
Student name: Emma Course Name: Machine Learning

class Course:
    # class variable
    course = "Python"

class Student(Course):
    # class variable
    course = "SQL"

    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def show_student(self):
        # Accessing class variable
        print('Before')
        print("Student name:", self.name, "Course Name:", Student.course)
        # changing class variable's value
        print('Now')
        Student.course = "Machine Learning"
        print("Student name:", self.name, "Course Name:", Student.course)

# creating object of Student class
stud = Student("Emma")
stud.show_student()

# parent class course name
print('Parent Class Course Name:', Course.course)

Before
Student name: Emma Course Name: SQL
Now
Student name: Emma Course Name: Machine Learning

Parent Class Course Name: Python

Wrong Use of Class Variables

We should use the class variable carefully in Python because all objects share the exact copy. Thus, if one of the objects modifies the value of a class variable, then all objects start referring to the fresh copy.

Example

class Player:
    # class variables
    club = 'Chelsea'
    sport = 'Football'

    def __init__(self, name):
        # Instance variable
        self.name = name

    def show(self):
        print("Player :", 'Name:', self.name, 'Club:', self.club, 'Sports:', self.sport)

p1 = Player('John')

# wrong use of class variable
p1.club = 'FC'
p1.show()

p2 = Player('Emma')
p2.sport = 'Tennis'
p2.show()

# actual class variable value
print('Club:', Player.club, 'Sport:', Player.sport)

Output

Player : Name: John Club: FC Sports: Football
Player : Name: Emma Club: Chelsea Sports: Tennis
Club: Chelsea Sport: Football

In the above example, the instance variable name is unique for each player. The class variable team and sport can be accessed and modified by any object.

Because both objects modified the class variable, a new instance variable is created for that particular object with the same name as the class variable, which shadows the class variables.

In our case, for object p1 new instance variable club gets created, and for object p2 new instance variable sport gets created.

So when you try to access the class variable using the p1 or p2 object, it will not return the actual class variable value.

To avoid this, always modify the class variable value using the class name so that all objects gets the updated value. Like this

Player.club = 'FC'
Player.sport = 'Tennis'