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Diffstat (limited to 'Doc/glossary.rst')
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1 files changed, 12 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/Doc/glossary.rst b/Doc/glossary.rst index cd8b7ac..3caa36e 100644 --- a/Doc/glossary.rst +++ b/Doc/glossary.rst @@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ Glossary The typical Python prompt of the interactive shell when entering code for an indented code block. + Abstract Base Class + Abstract Base Classes (abbreviated ABCs) complement :term:`duck-typing` by + providing a way to define interfaces when other techniques like :func:`hasattr` + would be clumsy. Python comes with many builtin ABCs for data structures + (in the :mod:`collections` module), numbers (in the :mod:`numbers` + module), and streams (in the :mod:`io` module). You can create your own + ABC with the :mod:`abc` module. + argument A value passed to a function or method, assigned to a name local to the body. A function or method may have both positional arguments and @@ -93,15 +101,16 @@ Glossary be any object with a :meth:`__hash__` function, not just integers starting from zero. Called a hash in Perl. - duck-typing + duck-typing Pythonic programming style that determines an object's type by inspection of its method or attribute signature rather than by explicit relationship to some type object ("If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.") By emphasizing interfaces rather than specific types, well-designed code improves its flexibility by allowing polymorphic substitution. Duck-typing avoids tests using :func:`type` or - :func:`isinstance`. Instead, it typically employs :func:`hasattr` tests or - :term:`EAFP` programming. + :func:`isinstance`. (Note, however, that duck-typing can be complemented + with abstract base classes.) Instead, it typically employs :func:`hasattr` + tests or :term:`EAFP` programming. EAFP Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. This common Python coding |