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Concepts·Certified Associate Python Programmer

Python Introspection and Class Attributes

PCAP objective 4.4 is discover the class structure, and it is a list of things you can ask an object about itself: `__class__`, `__name__`, `__bases__`, `__mro__`, `__dict__`, `__doc__`, plus `isinstance`, `issubclass` and the four `*attr` functions. Most of it is mechanical. Two details are not: `type()` and `isinstance()` disagree once inheritance is involved, and `__doc__` is not inherited.

Object-Oriented Python Guide 17 of 25 Intermediate

Written against the versions above. `__mro__` and `__bases__` are unchanged in Python 3. Every class has them, because every class is a new-style class - see {{guide:multiple-inheritance-and-the-mro}}.

One machine, and any shell with Python 3 will do - these exams test the language, not a distribution.
Server NameIP AddressOSRolesCPURAMHDD
RUNNER01192.168.0.27Ubuntu 26.04 LTSPython 3.14.4 - the only machine this path needs2 Core4 GB50 GB

Before you start

  1. Asking an object what it is

  2. __doc__ is not inherited

  3. The two dictionaries

  4. isinstance and issubclass

  5. The four attribute functions

  6. dir on your own class

  7. What the exam does with this objective

Official sources

← All PCAP guides