Let's explore some of the most useful magic methods.

We're already familiar with the `__init__` magic method, which we considered earlier. However, there are many other magic methods that can be incredibly useful. In this section, we'll focus on two of them: `__repr__` and `__str__`.

# Class Representation
When you create an instance of your class and try to print it in the console, you may encounter a representation that may not be very informative or user-friendly:

class User:
    def __init__(self, username):
        self.username = username

instance = User("top.user.123")

print(instance)

To obtain a more understandable and informative output when printing an instance, you can define the `__repr__` magic method, which stands for "representation".

class User:
    def __init__(self, username):
        self.username = username

    def __repr__(self):
        return f"User: {self.username}"

instance = User("top.user.123")

print(instance)

The provided code defines a class called `User`.  The `User` class includes a magic method `__repr__`, which returns a string representation of the object. In this case, the `__repr__` method returns a formatted string that includes the class name "User" and the value of the `username` attribute.

When the `print` statement is executed, it calls the `__repr__` method of the `instance` object to obtain a string representation of the object. In this case, the `__repr__` method is overridden in the `User` class to provide a custom representation.

# String Representation
The `__str__` magic method functions similarly to `__repr__`, but it is specifically used to provide information and a more readable representation of an object to users.

class User:
    def __init__(self, username):
        self.username = username

    def __repr__(self):
        return f"User: {self.username}"

    def __str__(self):
        return f"This is a user {self.username}"

instance = User("top.user.123")

print(instance)

The `print()` function searches for the `__str__` magic method in an object to obtain a string representation. If the `__str__` method is not defined, it falls back to using the `__repr__` method. 

Additionally, the `__str__` magic method can be used to convert an instance to a string type explicitly. By implementing the `__str__` method, you can define how the object should be represented as a string.

class User:
    def __init__(self, username):
        self.username = username

    def __repr__(self):
        return f"User: {self.username}"

    def __str__(self):
        return f"{self.username}"

instance = User("top.user.123")
string = str(instance) + " is the best user!"

print(string)

> Note
>
> In summary, the `__str__` and `__repr__` magic methods are used to define different string representations of objects in Python. The `__str__` method is typically used to provide a user-friendly output, presenting the object in a way that is easy to understand for users. On the other hand, the `__repr__` method is used to provide a developer-friendly output, typically containing more detailed information about the object for debugging and internal use.

This course covers Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python, starting with the basics and progressing to advanced concepts. You will implement a User model to gain practical experience and understanding of OOP features. By the end of the course, you will have a strong foundation in OOP and a deeper knowledge of Python's inner workings.

Let's start! The Object-Oriented Programming basic concepts are waiting for you here! In this section, you will get acquainted with the most important concepts for understanding Object-Oriented Programming.

Inheritance - the first of the OOP principles. The entities can be inherited from other ones. You learn how it works in code here.

Inheritance - the second of the OOP principles. The attributes and methods can be closed inside the class and used by the class only. Here you learn how to code with different access modifiers.

Polymorphism and abstraction are the third and fourth of the OOP principles. These principles are not easy to understand. Here you will get to know them in the simplest ways.

The magic methods make sandbox from Python. It's a unique Python tool you can't see in other languages. Here you learn how to use these methods and about the flexibility that they bring to Python.

repr and str

Awesome!

repr and str