Question

help(dir):

dir([object]) -> list of strings        
If called without an argument, return the names in the current scope.  
Else, return an alphabetized list of names comprising (some of) the attributes  
of the given object, and of attributes reachable from it.  
If the object supplies a method named __dir__, it will be used; otherwise  
the default dir() logic is used and returns:  
  for a module object: the module's attributes.  
  for a class object:  its attributes, and recursively the attributes  
    of its bases.  
  for any other object: its attributes, its class's attributes, and  
    recursively the attributes of its class's base classes.

i found maybe there are problems in the help file of dir builtin function.for example:

class  AddrBookEntry(object):
   'address book entry class'
   def __init__(self,nm,ph):
     self.name=nm
     self.phone=ph
   def updatePhone(self,newph):
     self.phone=newph
     print 'Updated phone # for :' ,self.name

dir(AddrBookEntry('tom','123'))
['__class__', '__delattr__', '__dict__', '__doc__', '__format__', '__getattribute__', '__hash__', '__init__', '__module__', '__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__setattr__', '__sizeof__', '__str__', '__subclasshook__', '__weakref__', 'name', 'phone', 'updatePhone']

1.dir() can list the method of object ,not only attributes
the updatePhone is method ,not attribute.

2.how can i know which is the attribute,which is method in the output of dir()?

Answer 1

1. Methods are attributes in Python.

2. Check the various attributes on them. Methods have im_* attributes.