Since Python is an object-oriented, programming language, almost everything is an object with properties and methods. To create an object, a class is used to create a blueprint of the object.

To create a class, the class keyword is used.

class my_class:
    x = 2

print(my_class)

Output:

<class '__main__.my_class'>

The class is then used to create an object.

class my_class:
    x = 2

p1 = my_class()
print(p1.x)

Output:

2

All classes have a function called __init__(), which is always executed when the class is being initiated.

The __init__() function is used to assign values to object properties, or other operations that are necessary when the object is being created.

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

p1 = Person("Johnny", 12)

print(p1.name)
print(p1.age)

Output:

Johnny
12

The __str__() function controls what should be returned when the class object is represented as a string.

If the __str__() function is not set, the string representation of the object is returned.

Example 1: Without a string representation

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

p1 = Person("Johnny", 12)

print(p1)

Output:

<__main__.Person object at 0x14f197a1f100>

Example 2: With a string representation

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def __str__(self):
        return f"{self.name}({self.age})"    

p1 = Person("Johnny", 12)

print(p1)

Output:

Johnny(12)

Objects can also contain methods, which are functions that belong to the object.

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def myfunc(self):
        print("My son's name is " + self.name + ".")

p1 = Person("Johnny", 12)
p1.myfunc()

Output:

My son's name is Johnny.

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