Python Tutorial

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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