python : instantiation of object

Question

class Team :
    def __init__(self):
        print "object instantiated"

To create an object of Team class,

>>> obj = Team()
object instantiated

From obj I can access member of Team class. But why is the following allowed?

>>> y = obj.__init__()
object instantiated

here some question it raises.

Why obj is able to call __init__() , is __init__() just like another method?
Whenever __init__() is called it will create an object (correct if i'm wrong here), so should y hold another instance of Team?

`init` initializes. It's not the same as a constructor in C++/Java see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/674304/pythons-use-of-new-and-init — daniel gratzer, Mar 21 '13 at 05:14
`y` will be None, as `__init__()` does not return anything per spec. — sberry, Mar 21 '13 at 05:14
[**Python __init__ and self what do they do?**](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/625083/python-init-and-self-what-do-they-do) — Jonathon Reinhart, Mar 21 '13 at 05:16
[**A Guide to Python's Magic Methods**](http://www.rafekettler.com/magicmethods.html) — Jonathon Reinhart, Mar 21 '13 at 05:18

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 21 '13 at 05:14

All the "magic" (double underscore) methods are available as regular methods, in addition to their special uses. The __init__ method does not actually create the object instance, it merely initializes the object after the __new__ method has created it. (Note that __init__ does not return anything, so y will be None after y = obj.__init__().)

python : instantiation of object

1 Answers1