Object

A single value built from a class, with its own attributes and methods. Also called an instance.

An object (or instance) is created by calling a class like a function: Dog("Rex"). Each object carries its own attributes, so two objects of the same class can hold different values.

In Python everything is an object — numbers, strings, lists, even functions and classes themselves. You work with an object through its attributes and methods, reached with a dot.

Example
class Point:
    def __init__(self, x, y):
        self.x = x
        self.y = y

a = Point(1, 2)            # one object
b = Point(5, 9)            # another, with its own values
print(a.x, b.x)
print(isinstance(a, Point))
Output
1 5
True

Where this shows up in real Python

Everything in Python is an object — numbers, strings, functions, and every instance of your own classes.

Commonly used Object tools

  • type(obj) — what class made this object
  • isinstance(obj, Cls) — is it that type (or a subclass)
  • dir(obj) — list its attributes and methods
  • vars(obj) — its instance data as a dict

Related terms