[Python]Compare __repr__ & __str__

__repr__, callsed by built-inrepr(), return string representation of a set
__str__, called by built-instr()

Phython Set
- unordered
- makes the elements uniqure

>>> list = [1,1,2,2,3,3]
>>> set(list)
set([1, 2, 3])

Each Goal

__repr__ goal is to be unambiguous, must
__str__ goal is to be readable, optional
Usually: __str__ = __repr__

Sample code

>>> class foo(object):      
...     def __repr__(self): 
...             return 'foo'
... 
>>> print str(foo())
foo
>>> print repr(foo())
foo
>>> class foo(object):
...     def __str__(object): return 'foo'
... 
>>> print str(foo())                     
foo
>>> print repr(foo())                    
<__main__.foo object at 0xb770f64c>

As you see, if you override __repr__, that’s ALSO used for __str__, but not vice versa. This means, in simple terms: almost every object you implement should have a functional __repr__thats usable for understanding the object. Implementing __str__ is optional.