python - Assigning a function to an object attribute

Question

Based on my understanding of Python's data model, and specifically the subsection "Instance Methods", whenever you read an attribute whose value is of type "user-defined function", some magic kicks in and you get a bound instance method instead of the actual, original function. That magic is why you don't explicitly pass the self parameter when you're calling a method.

But then, I would expect to be able to replace an object's method with a function with the same signature:

class Scriptable:
    def __init__(self, script = None):
        if script is not None:
            self.script = script   # replace the method
    def script(self):
        print("greetings from the default script")

>>> scriptable = Scriptable()
>>> scriptable.script()
greetings from the default script

>>> def my_script(self):
...     print("greetings from my custom script")
...
>>> scriptable = Scriptable(my_script)
>>> scriptable.script()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  ...
TypeError: script() takes exactly 1 positional argument (0 given)

I'm creating an instance of Scriptable, and setting its script attribute to a user-defined function with a single parameter, just like what's defined in the class. So when I read the scriptable.script attribute, I would expect the magic to kick in and give me a bound instance method that takes no parameters (just like I get when I didn't replace script). Instead, it seems to be giving back the exact same function I passed in, self parameter and all. The method-binding magic isn't happening.

Why does the method-binding magic work when I define a method inside the class declaration, but not when I assign the attribute? What makes Python treat these situations differently?

I'm using Python3 if it makes any difference.

Answer 1

Here is how you do it:

import types
class Scriptable:
    def __init__(self, script = None):
        if script is not None:
            self.script = types.MethodType(script, self)   # replace the method
    def script(self):
        print("greetings from the default script")

As ba__friend noted in the comments, methods are stored on the class object. A descriptor on the class object returns functions as bound methods when you access the attribute from a instance.

When you assign a function to a instance nothing happens special happens, so you have to wrap the function yourself.