> ## Documentation Index
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> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Python Instance Method
An instance method is a function defined within a class that operates on an individual object (instance) of that class. It is the default method type in Python and is characterized by accepting a reference to the calling instance as its first parameter, conventionally named `self`.
When an instance method is accessed via an object, Python automatically binds the method to that specific instance, creating a **bound method**. During invocation, the Python interpreter implicitly passes the instance reference to the `self` parameter, granting the method access to the instance namespace (its attribute dictionary, `__dict__`).
```python theme={"dark"}
class Blueprint:
# Definition: 'self' is the mandatory first parameter
def instance_method(self, value):
# Accessing and mutating the instance namespace
self.state = value
return self.state
# Instantiation
obj = Blueprint()
# Invocation: Python implicitly passes 'obj' as the 'self' argument
obj.instance_method(42)
# The above invocation is semantically equivalent to:
Blueprint.instance_method(obj, 42)
```
## Technical Characteristics
* **Implicit Argument Passing:** While `self` must be explicitly declared in the method signature, it is omitted during standard instance-level invocation. Evaluating `instance.method` returns a bound method object, which is then invoked directly with the remaining arguments.
* **State Access:** Through the `self` reference, instance methods possess read and write access to instance attributes (`self.attribute`) and can invoke other instance methods (`self.other_method()`).
* **Class Access:** Instance methods can traverse up to the class namespace using the `__class__` attribute (e.g., `self.__class__.class_attribute`), allowing them to read or modify class-level state.
* **Descriptor Protocol:** Instance methods are implemented via Python's descriptor protocol. Functions defined in a class dictionary have a `__get__` method. When accessed via an instance, `__get__` returns a bound method object wrapping both the underlying function and the instance. When accessed directly via the class (e.g., `Blueprint.instance_method`), it simply returns the standard `function` object.
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