Python object() Function – Tutorial with Examples

The Python object() function is a built-in function that returns a new object of type object. The object type is the base type in Python and all other classes in Python are derived from it. It is an instance of the object class and is used to create an object that can be used as a placeholder for an object of any type.

Syntax

object()

Parameters

The object() function takes no arguments.

Return Value

The object() function returns a new object of type object.

Examples

Example 1: Creating a new object of type object

obj = object()
print(type(obj))

Output:

<class 'object'>

In this example, we have defined a variable obj and assigned it the value returned by the object() function. Then we have used the type() function to check the type of the object. The output shows that the object is of type object.

Example 2: Creating an object of a class derived from object

class MyClass(object):
    pass

obj = MyClass()
print(type(obj))

Output:

<class '__main__.MyClass'>

In this example, we have defined a class MyClass that is derived from object. Then we have defined a variable obj and assigned it the value returned by instantiating the class MyClass. Finally, we have used the type() function to check the type of the object. The output shows that the object is of type MyClass.

Example 3: Creating an object of a user-defined class

class MyClass:
    pass

obj = MyClass()
print(type(obj))

Output:

<class '__main__.MyClass'>

In this example, we have defined a class MyClass that is not derived from object. Then we have defined a variable obj and assigned it the value returned by instantiating the class MyClass. Finally, we have used the type() function to check the type of the object. The output shows that the object is of type MyClass

Use Cases

The object() function is used in various scenarios including:

• As a placeholder for an object of any type: The object type is the base type in Python, and all other classes are derived from it. It can be used as a placeholder for an object of any type. For example, when defining a class, it can be specified that the class should inherit from object, even if it doesn’t need any of its methods.
• For creating an instance of an object: The object() function can be used to create an instance of an object of type object which can be used to create objects of other classes. For example, the MyClass in Example 2 is derived from object and an instance of MyClass is created using object().
• To check the type of an object: The type() function can be used to check the type of an object. In all the examples above, we have used the type() function to check the type of the object created using object().

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Python object() function is a simple but useful function that returns a new instance of the base type object in Python. It can be used as a placeholder for an object of any type, to create an instance of an object, and to check the type of an object. Understanding how to use the object() function is an important part of mastering Python programming.