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Instance Variable

Instance variables store values that are unique to each object instance, while class variables store a single value that is shared among all object instances. The key differences are that instance variables are created when an object is instantiated, can be accessed via an object reference, and each object has its own copy. Class variables exist when the class is defined, can be accessed via the class name, and changes affect all instances.

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Malik Abu bakar
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9 views

Instance Variable

Instance variables store values that are unique to each object instance, while class variables store a single value that is shared among all object instances. The key differences are that instance variables are created when an object is instantiated, can be accessed via an object reference, and each object has its own copy. Class variables exist when the class is defined, can be accessed via the class name, and changes affect all instances.

Uploaded by

Malik Abu bakar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Instance variable:

"Instance variables are the variables for which the value of the variable
is different for every instance."

We can also say that the value is different for every object that we create.
Let us dive into some in-depth explanations. When we create a class, we
define a few variables along with it. For example, we have created a class
of Students, and we have defined a variable age. All the students cannot
have the same age in a class, so we have assigned the variable an average
age of 16. Now, whenever we use an object to print the value of age, it
will show 16. We can change the value of age, but it will create a new
instance variable for the specific object that we are updating it for, hence
defining the value to it.

The code for changing age for a particular object will be something like
this:

Std1.age = 18

Class variable:

"Class attributes are owned by the class directly, which means that they
are not tied to any object or instance."

Same as in the above example, if we want to change the age for every
instance from 16 to 17, then we can do it by using the class variable,
which in this case is Student.
"It is worth noting that updating the value of the class variable will not
change it for the instance variables of the objects, such as in the case
above."

The code for changing age using a class variable will be something like
this:

Students.age = 18

The following are the notable differences between Class (static) and
instance variables.

Following are the differences between Class and instance variables.


Instance variables Class variables

When an object is created with the


When the program starts, static
use of the new keyword, instance
variables are created and
variables are created. They are
destroyed when the program
destroyed when the object is
stops.
destroyed.

Instance variables can be accessed by


Static variables can be accessed
calling the variable name inside the
by calling using a class
class. ObjectReference.VariableName
name. ClassName.VariableName.
.

There is only one copy of that


Every instance of the class has its
variable that is shared with all
own copy of that variable. Changes
instances of the class. If changes
made to the variable don't affect the
are made to that variable, all other
other instances of that class.
instances will be affected
class Employee:

no_of_leaves = 8

pass

harry = Employee()

rohan = Employee()

harry.name = "Harry"

harry.salary = 455

harry.role = "Instructor"

rohan.name = "Rohan"

rohan.salary = 4554

rohan.role = "Student"
print(Employee.no_of_leaves)

print(Employee._dict_)

Employee.no_of_leaves = 9

print(Employee._dict_)

print(Employee.no_of_leaves

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