What is the purpose of docstrings in Python?

What is the purpose of docstrings in Python?

Python documentation strings (or docstrings) provide a convenient way of associating documentation with Python modules, functions, classes, and methods. It’s specified in source code that is used, like a comment, to document a specific segment of code.

What are docstrings in Python module?

A docstring is a string literal that occurs as the first statement in a module, function, class, or method definition. Such a docstring becomes the __doc__ special attribute of that object. All modules should normally have docstrings, and all functions and classes exported by a module should also have docstrings.

What do you write in a module docstring?

The docstring for a module function should include the same items as a class method:

  1. A brief description of what the function is and what it’s used for.
  2. Any arguments (both required and optional) that are passed including keyword arguments.
  3. Label any arguments that are considered optional.

What is module in Python?

In Python, Modules are simply files with the “. py” extension containing Python code that can be imported inside another Python Program. In simple terms, we can consider a module to be the same as a code library or a file that contains a set of functions that you want to include in your application.

How are Docstrings used?

Python documentation strings (ordocstrings) provide a convenient way of associating documentation with Python modules, functions, classes, and methods. It’s specified in source code that is used, like a comment, to document a specific segment of code.

What is a Python module write one example?

A file containing Python code, for example: example.py , is called a module, and its module name would be example . We use modules to break down large programs into small manageable and organized files. Furthermore, modules provide reusability of code.

How do I document a Python module?

For the packages, you can document it in __init__.py . For the modules, you can add a docstring simply in the module file. Add your docstring as the first statement in the module. “”” Your module’s verbose yet thorough docstring.

How do I read a Python module document?

You can use the doc() function whenever needed to get quick help. However, you have a better way to study the packages and libraries located in the Python path — the Python Package Documentation. This feature often appears as Package Docs in the Python folder on your system. It’s also referred to as Pydoc.

What is module with example?

A module is a file containing Python definitions and statements. A module can define functions, classes, and variables. A module can also include runnable code. Grouping related code into a module makes the code easier to understand and use.

What’s the difference between comments and Docstrings?

Comments are used to increase the readability and understandability of the source code. Document strings or docstrings are also multiline string constants in python but they have very specific properties unlike python comment.

What should be the docstrings for a Python module?

The docstrings for Python Modules should list all the available classes, functions, objects and exceptions that are imported when the module is imported. They should also have a one-line summary for each item. They are written at the beginning of the Python file. Let’s look at the docstrings for the builtin module in Python called pickle.

What’s the difference between a docstring and a symbol in Python?

It explains the logic or a part of it used in the code. It is written by using # symbol. Whereas Python Docstrings as mentioned above provides a convenient way of associating documentation with Python modules, functions, classes, and methods. This article is contributed by Mayank Agrawal.

When do you call attribute docstrings in Python?

String literals occurring immediately after a simple assignment at the top level of a module, class, or __init__ method are called “attribute docstrings”. String literals occurring immediately after another docstring are called “additional docstrings”.

How to write multi line docstrings in Python?

Multi-line docstrings consist of a summary line just like a one-line docstring, followed by a blank line, followed by a more elaborate description. The PEP 257 document provides the standard conventions to write multi-line docstrings for various objects. 1. Docstrings for Python Modules

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