Using Variables for Class Names in Python?

Question

I want to know how to use variables for objects and function names in Python. In PHP, you can do this:

$className = \"MyClass\";

$newObject = new $className();
         


        

Answer 1

If you need to create a dynamic class in Python (i.e. one whose name is a variable) you can use type() which takes 3 params: name, bases, attrs

>>> class_name = 'MyClass'
>>> klass = type(class_name, (object,), {'msg': 'foobarbaz'})



>>> inst = klass()
>>> inst.msg
foobarbaz

• Note however, that this does not 'instantiate' the object (i.e. does not call constructors etc. It creates a new(!) class with the same name.