Question

What is the difference between __method__, method and _method__?

Is there any or for some random reason people thought that __doc__ should be right like that instead of doc. What makes a method more special than the other?

Answer 1

• __method: private method.
• __method__: special Python method. They are named like this to prevent name collisions. Check this page for a list of these special methods.
• _method: This is the recommended naming convention for protected methods in the Python style guide.

From the style guide:

• _single_leading_underscore: weak “internal use” indicator. E.g. from M
import * does not import objects whose name starts with an underscore.

• single_trailing_underscore_: used by convention to avoid conflicts with
  Python keyword, e.g.

  Tkinter.Toplevel(master, class_='ClassName')
  

• __double_leading_underscore: when naming a class attribute, invokes name
  mangling (inside class FooBar, __boo becomes _FooBar__boo; see below).

• __double_leading_and_trailing_underscore__: “magic” objects or
  attributes that live in user-controlled namespaces. E.g. __init__,
  __import__ or __file__. Never invent such names; only use them
  as documented.