Question

I’m new to python and programming in general, so would really appreciate any clarification on this point.

For example, in the following code:

    #Using a class
class Monster(object): 
    def __init__(self, level, damage, duration): 
        print self
        self.level = level
        self.damage = damage
        self.duration = duration

    def fight(self):
        print self 
        print "The monster's level is ", self.level
        print "The monster's damage is ", self.damage
        print "The attack duration is ", self.duration

    def sleep(self): 
        print "The monster is tired and decides to rest."

x = Monster(1, 2, 3)
y = Monster(2, 3, 4)
x.fight()
y.fight()
    y.sleep() 

   #just using a function
def fight_func(level, damage, duration):
    print "The monster's level is ", level
    print "The monster's damage is ", damage
    print "The attack duration is ", duration

fight_func(1, 2, 3)
fight_func(5,3,4)

The pure function version seems cleaner and gives the same result.

Is the primary value of classes that you can create and call a number of methods on an object, e.g. fight or sleep?

Answer 1

Your example is rather simplified.

In a more complete example fighting wouldn’t just display the current state – it would also modify that state. Your monster might get hurt and that would change its hit points and morale. This state has to be stored somewhere. If you use a class it would be natural to add instance variables to store this state.

Using only functions it would be more difficult to find a good place to store the state.