The **protected** access modifier can be used in the global scope, but it is generally considered to be a **bad practice**. IDEs typically hide protected attributes and methods from outside the class, which can hinder autocomplete and code correction.

class SomeClass():
    first = "Something"
    _attribute = "Protected"
    
    def _method(self):
        print("You should use protected inside the class")

    def info(self):
        print("INFO")
        print("first:", self.first)
        print("_attribute:", self._attribute)
        self._method()


instance = SomeClass()
print("Outside:", instance._attribute)  # BAD PRACTICE
instance.info()  # It's OK

You can use protected attributes and methods inside subclasses.

class User:
  _entity = "Internet User"
  
class Admin(User):
    def print_entity(self):
        print(self._entity)

admin = Admin()
admin.print_entity()

The protected access modifier allows you to define logic inside a class that can be extended to subclasses but should not be accessed directly from outside the class hierarchy.

> Note
>
> Protected attributes/methods in Python work similarly to regular attributes/methods, but by convention among developers, they are used for encapsulating data within a class and its subclasses.

This course covers Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python, starting with the basics and progressing to advanced concepts. You will implement a User model to gain practical experience and understanding of OOP features. By the end of the course, you will have a strong foundation in OOP and a deeper knowledge of Python's inner workings.

Let's start! The Object-Oriented Programming basic concepts are waiting for you here! In this section, you will get acquainted with the most important concepts for understanding Object-Oriented Programming.

Inheritance - the first of the OOP principles. The entities can be inherited from other ones. You learn how it works in code here.

Inheritance - the second of the OOP principles. The attributes and methods can be closed inside the class and used by the class only. Here you learn how to code with different access modifiers.

Polymorphism and abstraction are the third and fourth of the OOP principles. These principles are not easy to understand. Here you will get to know them in the simplest ways.

The magic methods make sandbox from Python. It's a unique Python tool you can't see in other languages. Here you learn how to use these methods and about the flexibility that they bring to Python.

In-Depth Python OOP

Protected