This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Python Buzz by Thomas Guest. Original Post: Message to Self. What's this? Feed Title: Word Aligned: Category Python Feed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/WordAlignedCategoryPython Feed Description: Dynamic languages in general. Python in particular. The adventures of a space sensitive programmer. Latest Python Buzz Posts Latest Python Buzz Posts by Thomas Guest Latest Posts From Word Aligned: Category Python

Where C++ has this, Python has self.

Unlike C++’s this you’re not required to refer to the current object as self: you could call it me, or current_object, or even this – but you’d have to be feeling pretty perverse to adopt such a non-idiomatic style. And also unlike C++, you do have to explicitly name the current object, which some find tiresome.

Python does have a standard this library, though. It isn’t documented. It isn’t even tested. To see what it does, open a command shell and type:

python -c "import this"

Go on, try it!