Default values in inheritance classes in python

Question

I have two classes. Where the Parent class has some default values. I would like the Child class to inherit the init() method of the Parent class and also the default values.

However, when I try to change the values of the optional arguments, I can't do it. For example, in the code below, I can't change the value of year_born.

def get_current_age(x):
    return 2017-x
get_age = get_current_age

class Parent():
    def __init__(self,name,last_name, siblings=0, year_born=1900, age=get_age):
        self.name = name
        self.last_name = last_name
        self.siblings = siblings
        self.year_born=year_born
        self._get_age = get_age(self.year_born)

class Child(Parent):
    def __init__(self,name,last_name, siblings=0, year_born=1900, age=get_age):
        super().__init__(name,last_name, siblings=0, year_born=1900, age=get_age)
        self.lives_with_parent= True
        self.stil_in_school= None

When I create instances of the Parent class with the default values, the output is ok. When I create a Child instance with a different value for age, it still takes the default value.

Dad=Parent('Fyodr','Dosto')
print('Dad is' ,Dad._get_age)

kid = Child('Joseph','Dosto', year_born=2000)
print('Kid is' ,kid._get_age)

Dad is 117
Kid is 117

I don't know if you have any other ideas of how to fix this or write it in a better way. Many thanks,

Well, you called super().__init__(stuff, year_born=1900, ...). What did you expect?? — ForceBru
– ForceBru, Commented Dec 29, 2017 at 16:41
That super call is wrong. It should be super().__init__(name,last_name, siblings, year_born, age) — PM 2Ring
– PM 2Ring, Commented Dec 29, 2017 at 16:42
Thank you @pm-2ring The init__(self,name,last_name, siblings=0, year_born=1900, age=get_age) of the Child should contain the defaults, but not super().__init_ ? — user3177938
– user3177938, Commented Dec 29, 2017 at 16:44

lpozo · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-29 16:50:45Z

3

Change this line in Child class:

super().__init__(name,last_name, siblings, year_born, age=get_age)

answered Dec 29, 2017 at 16:50

lpozo

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1 Comment

user3177938 Over a year ago

Thank you, that works. I now see that the defaults should not bee in the call of the super().__init__ function but only in the definition. Thanks

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