Python: multiple calls to __init__() on the same instance

Question

The __init__() function gets called when object is created. Is it ok to call an object __init__() function again, after its been created?

Answer 1

You can, but it's kind of breaking what __init__ is intended to do. A lot of Python is really just convention, so you might as well follow then and expect __init__ to only be called once. I'd recommend creating a function called init or reset or something which sets the instance variables, use that when you want to reset the instance, and have __init__ just call init. This definitely looks more sane:

x = Pt(1,2)
x.set(3,4)
x.set(5,10)