1. Definition and Purpose of Methods

A method in Python is a function that belongs to an object and is defined inside a class. The primary purpose of methods is to define behaviors and operations that are specific to an object. Methods allow objects to interact with their internal state (attributes) and provide functionality that operates on that object’s data. For instance, in a class representing a car, methods like start_engine() or accelerate() define actions that the car can perform.

class Car: 
def start_engine(self): 
print("The engine has started.")

• Belongs to an Object: Methods are functions defined within a class and operate on an object.
• Defines Object Behavior: Methods dictate how an object behaves and interacts with its attributes.

2. Method Syntax and Structure

The syntax for defining a method is similar to that of a function, with the addition of the self parameter, which refers to the instance of the object. The first parameter of every method is always self, which allows the method to access the object's attributes and other methods. The syntax for a method looks like this:

class Car:
    def start_engine(self):
        print("The engine has started.")

• self Parameter: Refers to the instance of the object, allowing access to attributes.
• Defined Within a Class: Methods are always part of a class definition.

3. Instance Methods, Class Methods, and Static Methods

In Python, methods can be classified into three main types: instance methods, class methods, and static methods. Instance methods operate on instances of a class and have access to instance variables. Class methods are defined with the @classmethod decorator and take cls (the class itself) as the first argument, allowing them to modify class-level data. Static methods are defined with the @staticmethod decorator and do not take self or cls, meaning they are independent of both class and instance data.

class Car:
    def instance_method(self):
        print("Instance method called.")
 @classmethod
def class_method(cls):
print("Class method called.")

• Instance Methods: Operate on individual objects.
• Class Methods: Operate on the class itself and class variables.
• Static Methods: Independent of both class and instance data.

4. Accessing and Modifying Object Attributes

One of the key uses of methods is to access and modify an object's attributes. The self parameter allows methods to access the instance’s attributes and make changes to them. For example, a method can update the speed of a car object or modify other properties like color or fuel level. This is fundamental to object-oriented programming, where methods encapsulate behavior related to an object’s data.

class Car:
    def __init__(self, model, speed):
        self.model = model
        self.speed = speed
 def accelerate(self, amount):
        self.speed += amount

• Modify Object State: Methods use self to access and change object attributes.
• Encapsulation: Methods encapsulate operations related to an object’s state.

5. Method Overriding

Method overriding is a feature that allows a subclass to provide a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. This is a core aspect of inheritance in object-oriented programming. When a method is overridden, the subclass’s version of the method will be called instead of the superclass’s version. This allows subclasses to modify or extend the behavior of inherited methods.

class Vehicle:
    def start_engine(self):
        print("The engine has started.")
class ElectricCar(Vehicle):
    def start_engine(self):
        print("The electric motor has started.")

• Method Overriding: Subclasses can provide their own implementation of a method.
• Inheritance: Allows subclasses to extend or modify inherited behavior.