What are the differences between properties and getters/setters in Python?

What are the differences between properties and getters/setters in Python?

In Python, properties provide a way to manage attribute access, while getters and setters are methods to get and set values.

Can you give me an example of how to use properties?

Sure! You can use the @property decorator to define a property. For example:

class Circle:
    def __init__(self, radius):
        self._radius = radius

    @property
    def radius(self):
        return self._radius

    @radius.setter
    def radius(self, value):
        if value < 0:
            raise ValueError('Radius cannot be negative')
        self._radius = value

How do getters and setters look in comparison?

Using getters and setters, the same example would look like this:

class Circle:
    def __init__(self, radius):
        self._radius = radius

    def get_radius(self):
        return self._radius

    def set_radius(self, value):
        if value < 0:
            raise ValueError('Radius cannot be negative')
        self._radius = value

Which approach is generally preferred in Python?

Properties are generally preferred in Python for their simplicity and readability, allowing for cleaner code.