Python: why can't descriptors be instance variables?

Question

Say I define this descriptor:

class MyDescriptor(object):

   def __get__(self, instance, owner):
        return self._value

    def __set__(self, instance, value):
        self._value = value

    def __delete__(self, instance):
        del(self._value)

And I use it in this:

class MyClass1(object):
    value = MyDescriptor()


>>> m1 = MyClass1()
>>> m1.value = 1
>>> m2 = MyClass1()
>>> m2.value = 2
>>> m1.value
2

So value is a class attribute and is shared by all instances.

Now if I define this:

class MyClass2(object)
    value = 1

>>> y1 = MyClass2()
>>> y1.value=1
>>> y2 = MyClass2()
>>> y2.value=2
>>> y1.value
1

In this case value is an instance attribute and is not shared by the instances.

Why is it that when value is a descriptor it can only be a class attribute, but when value is a simple integer it becomes an instance attribute?

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered May 10 '11 at 03:22

11

You're ignoring the instance parameter in your implementation of MyDescriptor. That is why it appears to be a class attribute. Perhaps you want something like this:

class MyDescriptor(object):

    def __get__(self, instance, owner):
        return instance._value

    def __set__(self, instance, value):
        instance._value = value

    def __delete__(self, instance):
        del(instance._value)

answered May 10 '11 at 03:22

Greg Hewgill

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How would you implement MyDescriptor() to make it behave like an instance variable? – Continuation May 10 '11 at 03:26
1

Did you try what I suggested? – Greg Hewgill May 10 '11 at 03:28
1

It worked. Thanks! My previous comment was made before I saw the updates you made to your answer. – Continuation May 10 '11 at 03:32
Great! I usually try to get the answer up before going off to test sample code. :) – Greg Hewgill May 10 '11 at 03:34
Continuation: Simple, just operate on the instance :) – richo May 10 '11 at 03:35

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 23 '12 at 15:35

0

Will not work if you try the code below:

class MyClass1(object):
    value = MyDescriptor()
    value2 = MyDescriptor()

c = MyClass1()
c.value = 'hello'
c.value2 = 'world'

# where c.value also equals to "world"

edited Sep 23 '12 at 15:35

athspk

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answered Sep 12 '12 at 01:14

Lix Xu

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Python: why can't descriptors be instance variables?

2 Answers2