What is a dataclass in Python and how do I make it immutable?

What is a dataclass in Python and how do I make it immutable?

A dataclass in Python is a decorator that automatically generates special methods like init() and repr() for classes. To make a dataclass immutable, you can set the 'frozen' parameter to True.

Can you show me an example of an immutable dataclass?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass(frozen=True)
class Point:
    x: int
    y: int

In this example, the Point class is immutable.

What happens if I try to change an attribute of an immutable dataclass?

If you try to change an attribute of an immutable dataclass, Python will raise a FrozenInstanceError, indicating that the instance cannot be modified.

Are there any use cases for immutable dataclasses?

Yes, immutable dataclasses are useful in scenarios where you want to ensure that the data remains constant, such as in functional programming or when using instances as dictionary keys.