How do I inspect a Python's class hierarchy?

Question

Assuming I have a class X, how do I check which is the base class/classes, and their base class/classes etc?

I'm using Eclipse with PyDev, and for Java for example you could type CTRL + T on a class' name and see the hierarchy, like:

java.lang.Object
   java.lang.Number
       java.lang.Integer

Is it possible for Python?

If not possible in Eclipse PyDev, where can I find this information?

This is answered in [Python: List all base classes in a hierarchy](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1401661/python-list-all-base-classes-in-a-hierarchy) — kojiro, Nov 20 '11 at 16:42

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 20 '11 at 16:42

8

Hit f4 with class name highlighted to open hierarchy view.

answered Nov 20 '11 at 16:42

soulcheck

36,297
6
91
90

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 05 '12 at 19:47

7

Also, every class carries around with it an attribute called __mro__ which gives all the parent classes from which a given class could inherit methods or attributes. Read them from left to right. For example:

assert bool.__mro__ == (<class 'bool'>, <class 'int'>, <class 'object'>)
assert True.__class__.__mro__ == (<class 'bool'>, <class 'int'>, <class 'object'>)

answered Apr 05 '12 at 19:47

wkschwartz

3,817
2
29
33

2

Also every (new style) class has a `mro` method, so you can call `bool.mro()` and `True.__class__.mro()` respectively (it returns list instead of tuple). – derenio Oct 01 '15 at 11:02

score 7 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 20 '11 at 16:43

7

Try inspect.getclasstree().

answered Nov 20 '11 at 16:43

John Zwinck

239,568
38
324
436

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 18 '22 at 21:42

You can also visualize class hierarchy as a picture.
I use Graphviz DOT and pyreverse to visualize and explore a large mess of classes (an example).

Assuming you want to draw all classes from tree.py in parso library:

# Generate classes_tree_full.png with full UML-style class boxes
$ pyreverse -mn    -o png -p tree_full  Lib\site-packages\parso\python\tree.py

# Generate classes_tree_short.png with only class names in boxes
$ pyreverse -mn -k -o png -p tree_short Lib\site-packages\parso\python\tree.py

Change -mn to -my if you want to see qualified class names, ex. parso.python.tree.Literal instead of just Literal.
Note: pyreverse also supports multiple files via globpatterns.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 10 '16 at 02:11

0

Hit command+o, then Press Ctrl+O to show parent hierarchy

checkout this blog http://pydev.blogspot.jp/2015/03/navigating-through-your-code-when-in.html

answered Aug 10 '16 at 02:11

wang binghuan

63
1
4

How do I inspect a Python's class hierarchy?

5 Answers5