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shrihanacharya
6,958 PointsSelf question
Why do I have to include “self.” before the food variable if it’s a class attribute?
class Panda:
species = 'Ailuropoda melanoleuca'
food = 'bamboo'
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.is_hungry = True
self.age = age
self.name = name
def eat(self):
self.is_hungry = False
return f'{self.name} eats {self.food}.'
2 Answers
![Steven Parker](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/969492/micro_tool_chess_set_2.jpg)
Steven Parker
230,688 PointsIt is because it is a class attribute that you use the "self." prefix. Without the prefix, it would refer to a local or a global variable (or cause an error if neither existed).
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shrihanacharya
6,958 PointsOhh ok. I assumed that the self. prefix only refers to instance attributes. I guess treehouse didn’t mention that in their lessons.
Steven Parker
230,688 PointsSteven Parker
230,688 Pointsshrihanacharya — Glad I could help. You can mark a question solved by choosing a "best answer".
And happy coding!