function name is undefined in python class

Question:

I am relatively new to python and i am experiencing some issues with namespacing.

class a:
    def abc(self):
        print "haha" 
    def test(self):
        abc()

b = a()
b.test() #throws an error of abc is not defined. cannot explain why is this so
Asked By: aceminer

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Answers:

Since test() doesn’t know who is abc, that msg NameError: global name 'abc' is not defined you see should happen when you invoke b.test() (calling b.abc() is fine), change it to:

class a:
    def abc(self):
        print "haha" 
    def test(self):
        self.abc()  
        # abc()

b = a()
b.abc() #  'haha' is printed
b.test() # 'haha' is printed
Answered By: Paul Lo

In order to call method from the same class, you need the self keyword.

class a:
    def abc(self):
        print "haha" 
    def test(self):
        self.abc() // will look for abc method in 'a' class

Without the self keyword, python is looking for the abc method in the global scope, that is why you are getting this error.

Answered By: Beri
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