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OOP – Methods

A method is a function defined inside a class that operates on the object's data via self

Part of: Python Coding — Module 51, VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 133, VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 71, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Object-oriented programming, debugging and testing — Module 3, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Object-oriented programming — Module 3, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Modular and Object-Oriented Programming (Python) — Module 46, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Algorithms and Programming Techniques — Module 87

Understanding OOP – Methods in Python

What it does: self refers to the object the method is called on. self.name reads the name attribute of the current object. Methods are functions that belong to a class and operate on its objects. Python uses self — other languages use this, but Python convention is self. Methods are functions — they can return any value using return. The method explicitly returns 'Woof!' — so that's what the call evaluates to. Classes can have any number of methods — __init__ is just one of them. A method is just a function defined inside a class — it gets self automatically.

Common mistakes: Missing self parameter every method needs self as first parameter. Use self.name inside methods name alone is not defined here.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 51–63) and word search (Modules 41–63).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

What is a method?

A function defined inside a classA standalone function

Matches

❌ def bark():

↓

Error: Missing self parameter

Applying

Meanings

Term

Method

Meaning

A function defined inside a class.

Practice

class Dog:

Testing

Gaps

def bark():

Check Answer

Spots

1class Dog:

2 def bark():

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Quick Questions

1. What is a method?

A. A standalone function

B. A function defined inside a class ✓

Methods are functions that belong to a class and operate on its objects

2. What must be the first parameter of a method?

A. self ✓

B. this

Python uses self — other languages use this, but Python convention is self

3. dog.bark() do you pass self?

A. No Python passes it automatically ✓

B. Yes

Python inserts self automatically — you only pass the other arguments

4. Can methods access self.name?

A. No

B. Yes that's how they use object data ✓

self gives the method a reference to the object, so it can read all its attributes

5. Can methods return values?

A. Yes just like regular functions ✓

B. No methods can't return

Methods are functions — they can return any value using return

Match the Pairs

def bark(): → Error: Missing self parameter

dog.Bark() → Error: Method names are case-sensitive

def bark(self): → Valid: Method with required self

self.name → Ok: Access instance attribute in a method

'hello'.upper() → Output: HELLO

[1,2,2].count(2) → Output: 2

Key Term

Method

A function defined inside a class.~~self

Fill in the Blanks

1. class Dog: def bark(self): return 'Woof!'

2. class Dog: def bark(self): return self.name + ' says Woof!'

3. dog = Dog('Rex') print(dog.bark( ))

4. class Counter: def __init__(self): self.count = 0 def increment(self): self.count += 1

5. class Circle: def area(self): return 3.14 * self.radius ** 2

Spot the Error

Question 1

A class Dog:

B def bark():

C return 'Woof!'

Line B — Missing self parameter every method needs self as first parameter

Question 2

A class Dog:

B def __init__(self, name):

C self.name = name

D def bark(self):

E return name + ' says Woof!'

Line E — Use self.name inside methods name alone is not defined here

Question 3

A dog = Dog('Rex')

B dog.bark

Line B — Missing parentheses bark is a method, call it with ()

Question 4

A class Dog:

B def bark(self):

C return 'Woof!'

E Dog.bark()

Line E — Call methods on objects, not the class. Create an object first.

Question 5

A class Dog:

B def bark(self):

C return 'Woof!'

E dog = Dog()

F print(dog.bark(self))

Line F — Don't pass self when calling Python fills it in automatically

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