Class and Object Terms

The foundations of Object-Oriented Programming is defining a Class

  • In Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), a class is a blueprint for creating an Object. (a data structure). An Object is used like many other Python variables.
  • A Class has ...
    • a collection of data, these are called Attributes and in Python are pre-fixed using the keyword self
    • a collection of Functions/Procedures. These are called *Methods when they exist inside a Class definition.
  • An Object is created from the Class/Template. Characteristics of objects ...
    • an Object is an Instance of the Class/Template
    • there can be many Objects created from the same Class
    • each Object contains its own Instance Data
    • the data is setup by the Constructor, this is the "init" method in a Python class
    • all methods in the Class/Template become part of the Object, methods are accessed using dot notation (object.method())
  • A Python Class allow for the definition of @ decorators, these allow access to instance data without the use of functions ...
    • @property decorator (aka getter). This enables developers to reference/get instance data in a shorthand fashion (object.name versus object.get_name())
    • @name.setter decorator (aka setter). This enables developers to update/set instance data in a shorthand fashion (object.name = "John" versus object.set_name("John"))
    • observe all instance data (self._name, self.email ...) are prefixed with "", this convention allows setters and getters to work with more natural variable name (name, email ...)

Adding DOB Code

# A gateway in necessary as a web server cannot communicate directly with Python.
# In this case, imports are focused on generating hash code to protect passwords.
from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
import json
from datetime import date
# Define a User Class/Template
# -- A User represents the data we want to manage

class User:
    # constructor of a User object, initializes the instance variables within object (self)
    def __init__(self, name, uid, password, classOf, dob):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object,
        self._uid = uid
        self.set_password(password)
        self.classOf = classOf
        self.dob = dob

    # a name getter method, extracts name from object
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name

    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name

    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid

    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid

    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid

    @property
    def password(self):
        return self._password[0:10] + "..." # because of security only show 1st characters

    #getter
    @property
    def classOf(self):
        return self._classOf

    #setter
    @classOf.setter
    def classOf(self, classOf):
        self._classOf = classOf

    #getter
    @property
    def dob(self):
        return self._dob

    #setter
    @dob.setter
    def dob(self, dob):
        self._dob = dob

    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result

    # output content using str(object) in human readable form, uses getter
    def __str__(self):
        return f'name: "{self.name}", id: "{self.uid}", psw: "{self.password}", classOf: "{self.classOf}", dob: "{self.dob}"'
    # output command to recreate the object, uses attribute directly
    def __repr__(self):
        return f'Person(name={self._name}, uid={self._uid}, password={self._password}, classOf: {self._classOf}, dob:{self.dob})'

def tester(users, uid, psw, classOf, dob):
    result = None
    for user in users:
        # test for match in database
        if user.uid == uid and user.is_password(psw):  # check for match
            print("* ", end="")
            result = user
        # print using __str__ method
        print(str(user))
    return result
        
# place tester code inside of special if!  This allows include without tester running
if __name__ == "__main__":


    # define user objects
    u1 = User(name='Thomas Edison', uid='toby', password='123toby', classOf='2020', dob='2003-11-4')
    u2 = User(name='Nicholas Tesla', uid='nick', password='123nick', classOf='1993', dob='1979-11-3')
    u3 = User(name='Alexander Graham Bell', uid='lex', password='123lex', classOf='1865', dob='1845-2-21')
    u4 = User(name='Eli Whitney', uid='eli', password='123eli', classOf='1790', dob='1772-4-16')
    u5 = User(name='Hedy Lemarr', uid='hedy', password='123hedy', classOf='2003', dob='1988-1-30')
    # add things that convert dob to actual date and numbers (WIP)
    # put user objects in list for convenience
    users = [u1, u2, u3, u4, u5]
    # Find user
    print("Test 1, find user 3")
    u = tester(users, u3.uid, "123lex", "1865", "2003-11-4")
    # Change user
    print("Test 2, change user 3")
    u.name = "Sean Yeung"
    u.uid = "sy1055"
    u.set_password("123qwerty")
    u.classOf = "2013"
    u.dob = "1995-1-1"
    u = tester(users, u.uid, "123qwerty", "2013", "1995-1-1")

    '''
    The __dict__ in Python represents a dictionary or any mapping object that is used to store the attributes of the object.
    Every object in Python has an attribute that is denoted by __dict__.
    Use the json.dumps() method to convert the list of Users to a JSON string.
    '''
    print("Test 3, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([user.__dict__ for user in users])
    print(json_string)
    print("Test 4, make a dictionary")
    json_string = json.dumps([vars(user) for user in users])
    print(json_string)
Test 1, find user 3
name: "Thomas Edison", id: "toby", psw: "sha256$UBW...", classOf: "2020", dob: "2003-11-4"
name: "Nicholas Tesla", id: "nick", psw: "sha256$uw2...", classOf: "1993", dob: "1979-11-3"
* name: "Alexander Graham Bell", id: "lex", psw: "sha256$FAZ...", classOf: "1865", dob: "1845-2-21"
name: "Eli Whitney", id: "eli", psw: "sha256$0ML...", classOf: "1790", dob: "1772-4-16"
name: "Hedy Lemarr", id: "hedy", psw: "sha256$s2X...", classOf: "2003", dob: "1988-1-30"
Test 2, change user 3
name: "Thomas Edison", id: "toby", psw: "sha256$UBW...", classOf: "2020", dob: "2003-11-4"
name: "Nicholas Tesla", id: "nick", psw: "sha256$uw2...", classOf: "1993", dob: "1979-11-3"
* name: "Sean Yeung", id: "sy1055", psw: "sha256$EIZ...", classOf: "2013", dob: "1995-1-1"
name: "Eli Whitney", id: "eli", psw: "sha256$0ML...", classOf: "1790", dob: "1772-4-16"
name: "Hedy Lemarr", id: "hedy", psw: "sha256$s2X...", classOf: "2003", dob: "1988-1-30"
Test 3, make a dictionary
[{"_name": "Thomas Edison", "_uid": "toby", "_password": "sha256$UBWGxPgcvAchwg2h$d314742687e178b3e9bdf4278888328fd25be3b741d96c89377ccd89b7fc9241", "_classOf": "2020", "_dob": "2003-11-4"}, {"_name": "Nicholas Tesla", "_uid": "nick", "_password": "sha256$uw27BlOzhWz4cwhC$4596730717ba4bc90f886302375fde34c8f0561c4ddaa60206eeb289d7f837ba", "_classOf": "1993", "_dob": "1979-11-3"}, {"_name": "Sean Yeung", "_uid": "sy1055", "_password": "sha256$EIZlZsZAkxySAKs1$9c4e96dc74fcb004a91b4eb3c3bc7d4f48d609b966e1e5b8a1c90f3f547d9b28", "_classOf": "2013", "_dob": "1995-1-1"}, {"_name": "Eli Whitney", "_uid": "eli", "_password": "sha256$0MLCOkeUcJbNFl0m$17bdfcb79ee6c79a105124437e07d5c40b6a3f3a7084a0511ab310a60eca7ede", "_classOf": "1790", "_dob": "1772-4-16"}, {"_name": "Hedy Lemarr", "_uid": "hedy", "_password": "sha256$s2X8X902N3yWojHb$135fbfb396d1737d23387d6356851960ac7709e65f9122e240a6e05aed4bda47", "_classOf": "2003", "_dob": "1988-1-30"}]
Test 4, make a dictionary
[{"_name": "Thomas Edison", "_uid": "toby", "_password": "sha256$UBWGxPgcvAchwg2h$d314742687e178b3e9bdf4278888328fd25be3b741d96c89377ccd89b7fc9241", "_classOf": "2020", "_dob": "2003-11-4"}, {"_name": "Nicholas Tesla", "_uid": "nick", "_password": "sha256$uw27BlOzhWz4cwhC$4596730717ba4bc90f886302375fde34c8f0561c4ddaa60206eeb289d7f837ba", "_classOf": "1993", "_dob": "1979-11-3"}, {"_name": "Sean Yeung", "_uid": "sy1055", "_password": "sha256$EIZlZsZAkxySAKs1$9c4e96dc74fcb004a91b4eb3c3bc7d4f48d609b966e1e5b8a1c90f3f547d9b28", "_classOf": "2013", "_dob": "1995-1-1"}, {"_name": "Eli Whitney", "_uid": "eli", "_password": "sha256$0MLCOkeUcJbNFl0m$17bdfcb79ee6c79a105124437e07d5c40b6a3f3a7084a0511ab310a60eca7ede", "_classOf": "1790", "_dob": "1772-4-16"}, {"_name": "Hedy Lemarr", "_uid": "hedy", "_password": "sha256$s2X8X902N3yWojHb$135fbfb396d1737d23387d6356851960ac7709e65f9122e240a6e05aed4bda47", "_classOf": "2003", "_dob": "1988-1-30"}]

Adding Age Code Hacks

from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
from datetime import date
import json

class User:    

    def __init__(self, name, uid, password, dob):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object, 
        self._uid = uid
        self.set_password(password)
        self._dob = dob
    
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name
    
    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid
        
    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid
    
    # dob property is returned as string, to avoid unfriendly outcomes
    @property
    def dob(self):
        dob_string = self._dob.strftime('%m-%d-%Y')
        return dob_string
    
    # dob should be have verification for type date
    @dob.setter
    def dob(self, dob):
        self._dob = dob
        
    # age is calculated and returned each time it is accessed
    @property
    def age(self):
        today = date.today()
        return today.year - self._dob.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (self._dob.month, self._dob.day))
    
    # dictionary is customized, removing password for security purposes
    @property
    def dictionary(self):
        dict = {
            "name" : self.name,
            "uid" : self.uid,
            "dob" : self.dob,
            "age" : self.age
        }
        return dict
    
    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result
    
    # output content using json dumps, this is ready for API response
    def __str__(self):
        return json.dumps(self.dictionary)
    
    # output command to recreate the object, uses attribute directly
    def __repr__(self):
        return f'User(name={self._name}, uid={self._uid}, password={self._password},dob={self._dob})'
    

if __name__ == "__main__":
    u1 = User(name='Thomas Edison', uid='toby', password='123toby', dob=date(1847, 2, 11))
    print("JSON ready string:\n", u1, "\n") 
    print("Raw Variables of object:\n", vars(u1), "\n") 
    print("Raw Attributes and Methods of object:\n", dir(u1), "\n")
    print("Representation to Re-Create the object:\n", repr(u1), "\n") 
JSON ready string:
 {"name": "Thomas Edison", "uid": "toby", "dob": "02-11-1847", "age": 175} 

Raw Variables of object:
 {'_name': 'Thomas Edison', '_uid': 'toby', '_password': 'sha256$qINcDX0qkPPUFYry$1e2bafb974799b8456134281602c0937afc48cc814beea4bdeb8cd2e56bb4c15', '_dob': datetime.date(1847, 2, 11)} 

Raw Attributes and Methods of object:
 ['__class__', '__delattr__', '__dict__', '__dir__', '__doc__', '__eq__', '__format__', '__ge__', '__getattribute__', '__gt__', '__hash__', '__init__', '__init_subclass__', '__le__', '__lt__', '__module__', '__ne__', '__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__setattr__', '__sizeof__', '__str__', '__subclasshook__', '__weakref__', '_dob', '_name', '_password', '_uid', 'age', 'dictionary', 'dob', 'is_password', 'is_uid', 'name', 'set_password', 'uid'] 

Representation to Re-Create the object:
 User(name=Thomas Edison, uid=toby, password=sha256$qINcDX0qkPPUFYry$1e2bafb974799b8456134281602c0937afc48cc814beea4bdeb8cd2e56bb4c15,dob=1847-02-11) 

Own Class Hacks

from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash, check_password_hash
from datetime import date
import json

class User:    

    def __init__(self, name, uid, password, dob, height):
        self._name = name    # variables with self prefix become part of the object, 
        self._uid = uid
        self.set_password(password)
        self._dob = dob
        self._height = height
    
    @property
    def name(self):
        return self._name
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, name):
        self._name = name
    
    @property
    def height(self):
        return self._height
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @name.setter
    def name(self, height):
        self._height = height

    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a getter method, extracts email from object
    @property
    def uid(self):
        return self._uid
    
    # a setter function, allows name to be updated after initial object creation
    @uid.setter
    def uid(self, uid):
        self._uid = uid
        
    # check if uid parameter matches user id in object, return boolean
    def is_uid(self, uid):
        return self._uid == uid
    
    # dob property is returned as string, to avoid unfriendly outcomes
    @property
    def dob(self):
        dob_string = self._dob.strftime('%m-%d-%Y')
        return dob_string
    
    # dob should be have verification for type date
    @dob.setter
    def dob(self, dob):
        self._dob = dob
        
    # age is calculated and returned each time it is accessed
    @property
    def age(self):
        today = date.today()
        return today.year - self._dob.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (self._dob.month, self._dob.day))
    
    # dictionary is customized, removing password for security purposes
    @property
    def dictionary(self):
        dict = {
            "name" : self.name,
            "uid" : self.uid,
            "dob" : self.dob,
            "age" : self.age,
            "height" : self.height,
        }
        return dict
    
    # update password, this is conventional setter
    def set_password(self, password):
        """Create a hashed password."""
        self._password = generate_password_hash(password, method='sha256')

    # check password parameter versus stored/encrypted password
    def is_password(self, password):
        """Check against hashed password."""
        result = check_password_hash(self._password, password)
        return result
    
    # output content using json dumps, this is ready for API response
    def __str__(self):
        return json.dumps(self.dictionary)
    
    # output command to recreate the object, uses attribute directly
    def __repr__(self):
        return f'User(name={self._name}, uid={self._uid}, password={self._password},dob={self._dob})'
    

if __name__ == "__main__":
    u1 = User(name='Sean Y', uid='yeung', password='123yeung', dob=date(1995, 2, 3), height='10 feet')
    u2 = User(name='Ellie P', uid='ellie', password='123ellie', dob=date(2007, 11, 1), height='10 feet')
    u3 = User(name='Kaylee H', uid='kaylee', password='123kaylee', dob=date(2005, 10, 30), height='10 feet')
    u4 = User(name='Theo H', uid='theo', password='123theo', dob=date(2006, 1, 31), height='10 feet')
    print("Dictionary")
    print("JSON ready string:\n", u1, "\n")
    print("JSON ready string:\n", u2, "\n")
    print("JSON ready string:\n", u3, "\n")
    print("JSON ready string:\n", u4, "\n")
Dictionary
JSON ready string:
 {"name": "Sean Y", "uid": "yeung", "dob": "02-03-1995", "age": 27, "height": "10 feet"} 

JSON ready string:
 {"name": "Ellie P", "uid": "ellie", "dob": "11-01-2007", "age": 15, "height": "10 feet"} 

JSON ready string:
 {"name": "Kaylee H", "uid": "kaylee", "dob": "10-30-2005", "age": 17, "height": "10 feet"} 

JSON ready string:
 {"name": "Theo H", "uid": "theo", "dob": "01-31-2006", "age": 16, "height": "10 feet"}