Python super() constructor

In Python super() function is used to call a method from the parent class (also known as the superclass or base class) within a subclass. It provides a way to access and invoke methods or attributes defined in the parent class, allowing for method overriding and inheritance.

The super() function is typically used in the context of method overriding, where a subclass overrides a method that is already defined in the parent class. By using super(), you can call the parent class’s version of the method and extend or modify its behavior as needed.

Here’s an example to illustrate the usage of super():

class ParentClass:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def say_hello(self):
        print(f"Hello, I'm {self.name} from the parent class.")


class ChildClass(ParentClass):
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        super().__init__(name)  # Call the parent class's __init__ method
        self.age = age

    def say_hello(self):
        super().say_hello()  # Call the parent class's say_hello method
        print(f"I'm {self.name} and I'm {self.age} years old.")


# Creating an instance of the ChildClass
child = ChildClass("Alice", 10)

# Calling the overridden method
child.say_hello()

In the example above, the ParentClass defines an __init__ method and a say_hello method. The ChildClass is a subclass of ParentClass and overrides both the __init__ and say_hello methods.

Inside the ChildClass‘s __init__ method, super().__init__(name) is used to call the __init__ method of the parent class. This allows the child class to initialize the name attribute inherited from the parent class.

Similarly, within the ChildClass‘s overridden say_hello method, super().say_hello() is used to call the say_hello method of the parent class. This ensures that the parent class’s behavior is executed before adding the additional behavior specific to the child class.

By using super(), you can maintain the functionality and behavior defined in the parent class while extending or modifying it in the subclass, promoting code reuse and following the principles of inheritance in object-oriented programming.