What are properties in Python and how do I use them?

What are properties in Python and how do I use them?

Properties in Python are a way to manage the attributes of a class. They allow you to define methods that get, set, or delete an attribute, providing a way to add logic when accessing or modifying it.

Can you show me an example of how to define a property?

Sure! You can use the @property decorator to define a getter method, and @<property_name>.setter for the setter. Here's a simple 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

What happens if I try to set a negative radius?

If you try to set a negative radius, the setter method will raise a ValueError with the message 'Radius cannot be negative'. This helps to enforce valid values for the attribute.