is it possible to create a python object that has the following property:
class Foo:
def __default_method__(x):
return x
f = Foo()
f(10)
> 10
That is to say, an object that when instantiated allows for a method to be called without the need for an explicit method name?
Yes. It's called __call__().
As Kevin pointed out in his answer, __call__ is what you are looking for.
As a matter of fact, every time you create a class object you are using a callable class (the class's metaclass) without realizing it.
Usually we make a class this way:
class C(object):
a = 1
But you can also make a class this way:
C = type('C',(object,),{'a':1})
The type class is the metaclass of all Python classes. The class C is an instance of type. So now, when you instantiate an object of type C using C(), you are actually calling the type class.
You can see this in action by replacing type with your own metaclass:
class MyMeta(type):
def __call__(self):
print("MyMeta has been called!")
super().__call__()
class C(object, metaclass = MyMeta):
pass
c = C() # C() is a CALL to the class of C, which is MyMeta
> My Meta has been called!
