Question

In Python, which is the best way (style wise) to allow public access to an object’s variables?

There are lots of options I’ve seen from different languages, I was wondering which of these (if any) is the preferred Python method? These are the options I’m currently torn between:

1. Allow direct access to object variables (e.g. print(object.variable)), ignore data hiding
2. Allow access to object variables by a wrapper function:

---

class X:
    variable_a = 0
    variable_b = 0
...
    def get_variable_a(self):
        return self.variable_a

If this is the recommended way, how do you name the methods? (get_variablename(), or just variablename etc?)

What does everyone recommend for this?

thanks!

Lucy

Answer 1

Don’t bother using accessors until they’re necessary; converting a simple attribute to a property is quick and easy, and doesn’t need modification of client code.

When I write a property, I use _get_FOO() and _set_FOO() for the accessors, and _FOO for the attribute itself.