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Diffstat (limited to 'Doc/glossary.rst')
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1 files changed, 22 insertions, 13 deletions
diff --git a/Doc/glossary.rst b/Doc/glossary.rst index 5f0d4c0..dfcbee8 100644 --- a/Doc/glossary.rst +++ b/Doc/glossary.rst @@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ Glossary Benevolent Dictator For Life, a.k.a. `Guido van Rossum <http://www.python.org/~guido/>`_, Python's creator. - byte code - The internal representation of a Python program in the interpreter. The - byte code is also cached in ``.pyc`` and ``.pyo`` files so that executing - the same file is faster the second time (recompilation from source to byte - code can be avoided). This "intermediate language" is said to run on a - "virtual machine" that calls the subroutines corresponding to each - bytecode. + bytecode + Python source code is compiled into bytecode, the internal representation + of a Python program in the interpreter. The bytecode is also cached in + ``.pyc`` and ``.pyo`` files so that executing the same file is faster the + second time (recompilation from source to bytecode can be avoided). This + "intermediate language" is said to run on a "virtual machine" that calls + the subroutines corresponding to each bytecode. classic class One of the two flavors of classes in earlier Python versions. Since @@ -47,12 +47,15 @@ Glossary descriptor An object that defines the methods :meth:`__get__`, :meth:`__set__`, or :meth:`__delete__`. When a class attribute is a descriptor, its special - binding behavior is triggered upon attribute lookup. Normally, writing - *a.b* looks up the object *b* in the class dictionary for *a*, but if *b* - is a descriptor, the defined method gets called. Understanding - descriptors is a key to a deep understanding of Python because they are - the basis for many features including functions, methods, properties, - class methods, static methods, and reference to super classes. + binding behavior is triggered upon attribute lookup. Normally, using + *a.b* to get, set or delete an attribute looks up the object named *b* in + the class dictionary for *a*, but if *b* is a descriptor, the respective + descriptor method gets called. Understanding descriptors is a key to a + deep understanding of Python because they are the basis for many features + including functions, methods, properties, class methods, static methods, + and reference to super classes. + + For more information about descriptors' methods, see :ref:`descriptors`. dictionary An associative array, where arbitrary keys are mapped to values. The use @@ -209,6 +212,8 @@ Glossary with an iterator will just return the same exhausted iterator object used in the previous iteration pass, making it appear like an empty container. + More information can be found in :ref:`typeiter`. + LBYL Look before you leap. This coding style explicitly tests for pre-conditions before making calls or lookups. This style contrasts with @@ -237,6 +242,8 @@ Glossary powerful, elegant solutions. They have been used for logging attribute access, adding thread-safety, tracking object creation, implementing singletons, and many other tasks. + + More information can be found in :ref:`metaclasses`. mutable Mutable objects can change their value but keep their :func:`id`. See @@ -267,6 +274,8 @@ Glossary earlier Python versions, only new-style classes could use Python's newer, versatile features like :attr:`__slots__`, descriptors, properties, :meth:`__getattribute__`, class methods, and static methods. + + More information can be found in :ref:`newstyle`. Python 3000 Nickname for the next major Python version, 3.0 (coined long ago when the |