How do I define an array class in Python?

Question

I want to define a point, then define an array of three points as a class. Given the definition below, I can do this and it works:

a = [POINT(0,0) for i in range(4)]

but I want to be able to do this:

a = THREEPOINTS()

and then do this:

a[2].x = 7
a[2].y = 3

My attempt is below but it doesn't work. Is there a way to define a class that is an array?

class POINT:
    def __init__(self, x, y):
        self.x = x
        self.y = y

class THREEPOINTS:
    def __init__(self):
        self = [POINT(0,0) for i in range(4)]

Reassigning self is bad practice. Try having an instance variable arr and getting the elements of that through the __getitem__ magic method. — rassar
– rassar, Commented Oct 5, 2020 at 16:53
also, reassigning self does absolutely nothing - except for having the local name self point at the list you created — acushner
– acushner, Commented Oct 5, 2020 at 16:53

chepner · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-05 16:53:27Z

4

THREEPOINTS itself is not a list; it will have a list-valued attribute.

class THREEPOINTS:
    def __init__(self):
        self.points = [POINT(0,0) for i in range(3)]

    def __getitem__(self, i):
        return self.points[i]

    def __setitem__(self, i, v):
        self.points[i] = v

Note the use of range(3), not range(4), to define 3 points. If you want your THREEPOINTS indexed from 1 to 3 rather than 0 to 2, you can subtract one from i in __getitem__ and __setitem__ to map your 1-based indices to 0-based indices used by the list.

answered Oct 5, 2020 at 16:53

chepner

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