Python Tutorial for Beginners

Deleting Attributes and Objects in Python

How to Delete Attributes and Objects in Python?

Following methods or functions can be used for deleting Python attributes and objects:

delattr function in Python

With the object's permission, the delattr() method is used to delete the named attribute from the object.

Syntax:

delattr(object, name)

There are just two parameters in this function:

  • object:  from which  the name attribute is to be removed.

  • name:  of the attribute  which is to be removed.

The function does not return a value; instead, it just removes the attribute if the object permits it.

Example:

# Python code to illustrate delattr()

class WSC:

  stu1 = "Harshal"

  stu2 = "Zishan"

  stu3 = "Sumit"

  stu4 = "Amit"

  stu5 = "Shravan"

names = WSC()

print('Students before delattr()--')

print('First = ',names.stu1)

print('Second = ',names.stu2)

print('Third = ',names.stu3)

print('Fourth = ',names.stu4)

print('Fifth = ',names.stu5)

# implementing the method

delattr(WSC, 'stu5')

print('After deleting fifth student--')

print('First = ',names.stu1)

print('Second = ',names.stu2)

print('Third = ',names.stu3)

print('Fourth = ',names.stu4)

# this statement raises an error

print('Fifth = ',names.stu5)

Output

Students before delattr()--
First =  Harshal
Second =  Zishan
Third =  Sumit
Fourth =  Amit
Fifth =  Shravan
After deleting fifth student--
First =  Harshal
Second =  Zishan
Third =  Sumit
Fourth =  Amit

del operator in Python

In Python, there is one more operator that performs the same function as the delattr() method. It's the del command. 

Example:

# Python code to illustrate del()

class WSC:

  stu1 = "Harshal"

  stu2 = "Zishan"

  stu3 = "Sumit"

  stu4 = "Amit"

  stu5 = "Shravan"

names = WSC()

print('Students before del--')

print('First = ',names.stu1)

print('Second = ',names.stu2)

print('Third = ',names.stu3)

print('Fourth = ',names.stu4)

print('Fifth = ',names.stu5)

# implementing the operator

del WSC.stu5

print('After deleting fifth student--')

print('First = ',names.stu1)

print('Second = ',names.stu2)

print('Third = ',names.stu3)

print('Fourth = ',names.stu4)

# this statement raises an error

print('Fifth = ',names.stu5)

Output: 

Students before del--
First =  Harshal
Second =  Zishan
Third =  Sumit
Fourth =  Amit
Fifth =  Shravan
After deleting fifth student--
First =  Harshal
Second =  Zishan
Third =  Sumit
Fourth =  Amit
The output is the same with an error:  
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/7c239eef9b897e964108c701f1f94c8a.py", line 26, in 
    print('Fifth = ',names.stu5)
AttributeError: 'WSC' object has no attribute 'stu5'

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