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Comparison Magic Methods | Magic Methods
In-Depth Python OOP
course content

Course Content

In-Depth Python OOP

In-Depth Python OOP

1. OOP Concepts
2. Inheritance
3. Encapsulation
4. Polymorphism and Abstraction
5. Magic Methods

bookComparison Magic Methods

Similarly to the mathematical magic methods, here we take self and other as arguments and compare their desired attributes. These magic methods should always return True or False.

Magic MethodOperation
__eq__(self, other)==
__gt__(self, other)>
__ge__(self, other)>=
__lt__(self, other)<
__le__(self, other)<=
__ne__(self, other)!=

Note

To understand the naming of these methods, look at some examples:

  • eq is equal.
  • gt is greater than.
  • le is less or equal.
  • ne is not equal.
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a = 12.3 b = 5.7 print("a >= b is", a >= b) print("a.__ge__(b) is", a.__ge__(b))
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Look at the example of Road class:

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class Road: def __init__(self, length): self.length = length def __eq__(self, other): if isinstance(other, Road): return self.length == other.length # compare with road return self.length == other # compare with number road_1 = Road(20) road_2 = Road(30) road_3 = Road(20) print(road_1 == road_2) print(road_1 == road_3) print(road_1 == 20) print(road_1 == 20.0) print(road_1 == 1412)
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Note

To optimize the code, you can utilize existing comparison methods. For example, if you have implemented the __lt__() method (<), by implementing the __ge__() method (>=), you can use return not (instance1 < instance2) which will return the opposite result of the already implemented < operator.

Which magic method should be used?

Which magic method should be used?

Select the correct answer

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Section 5. Chapter 4
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