What are the differences between dataclasses and regular classes in Python?

What are the differences between dataclasses and regular classes in Python?

Dataclasses are a simpler way to create classes for storing data. They automatically generate special methods like init and repr.

Can you give me an example of a dataclass?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class Person:
    name: str
    age: int

This automatically creates an init method for you.

What about regular classes? How do they differ?

Regular classes require you to define methods like init manually. For example:

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

When should I use dataclasses instead of regular classes?

Use dataclasses when you primarily need a class to store data with minimal boilerplate code. They're great for simple data structures!