When an object is destroyed, the destructors are called. Destructors are not as necessary in Python as they are in C++ since Python contains a garbage collector that manages memory automatically.
In Python, the __del__() method is referred to as a destructor method. It is triggered when an item is garbage collected, or when all references to the object have been destroyed.
In order to destroy the thing, the users dial Destructor. Destructors may not be as necessary in Python as they are in the C++ programming language. This is so that Python’s garbage collector, whose job it is to automatically manage memory, can perform.
In this post, we’ll talk about Python’s destructors and when users can utilise them.
In Python, the destructor function is represented by the __del__() function. After an object has been destroyed from all references and is being garbage collected, the user can call the __del__() function.
The class below has a constructor (init) and destructor (del). We create an instance from the class and delete it right after.
An example of using destructor is shown in the code below:
class car def __init__(self): print('car created.') def __del__(self): print('Destructor called, car deleted.') car = Vehicle() # this is where the object is created and the constructor is called del car # this is where the destructor function gets called |
Output
Car created.
Destructor called, Car deleted.
Few Important Points
Function __del__ is the counter-part of function __new__, just as a Destructor is a Constructor’s counterpart. because the function that produces the object is called __new__.
Any object’s __del__ method is invoked when its reference count reaches zero.
It is not essential for an object’s __del__ method to be invoked if it goes out of scope because reference counting is done. Only when the number of references drops to zero will the destructor procedure be invoked.
Referencing in Circles
When two items refer to one another, this is known as circular referencing. When both of these objects lose their references, Python is unsure which one to trash first and decides not to destroy any of them in order to prevent an error.
Exception in the procedure __init__
Destructors are only called in object-oriented programming when an object is successfully constructed since, in the event of an exception in the function Object() { [native code] }, the function Object() { [native code] } itself destroys the object.
Uses of Python Destructors
Destructors are often used to deallocate memory and carry out various cleanup tasks when a class object and its members are destroyed. When a class object is destroyed or removed, the destructor is invoked.
Python has a built-in garbage collector that manages memory, but when an object is destroyed, more than just memory needs to be freed. It is necessary to release or close any additional resources that the object was using, which may have included open files, database connections, and clearing the buffer or cache. For all of these cleanup tasks, a destructor is used in Python. Think about an E-scooter, for instance, whose programming eliminates the “battery” object. However, one would need to turn off the ignition and make sure the scooter is sitting on the stand before damaging the battery. And the Destructo is responsible for the latter.
However, in Python, the function __del__ is executed in the event that an exception occurs while Initializing the object in the __in it__ method.
The __del__ method will therefore attempt to empty all the resources and variables even though the object was never initialized correctly, which could result in another error.
