Python delattr(): Delete an Attribute from an Object

delattr Example

The delattr() function removes an attribute from an object dynamically. It’s useful when you need to delete properties at runtime, especially in dynamic objects and class manipulation.

Simple Example

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

person = Person("Alice", 30)
delattr(person, "age")

print(hasattr(person, "age"))  # Output: False

Here, delattr(person, "age") removes the age attribute from the object.

Syntax

delattr(object, attribute_name)

object → The instance of a class.
attribute_name → The name of the attribute to delete (as a string).

This is the same as using:

del person.age

1. Deleting an Attribute Dynamically

delattr() is useful when you don’t know the attribute name in advance.

class Car:
    def __init__(self, brand, model):
        self.brand = brand
        self.model = model

car = Car("Tesla", "Model 3")

attr_to_delete = "model"
delattr(car, attr_to_delete)

print(hasattr(car, "model"))  # Output: False

Perfect when working with dynamically created attributes.

2. Using `delattr()` in a Class Method

You can define a method to remove attributes within a class.

class User:
    def __init__(self, username, email):
        self.username = username
        self.email = email

    def remove_email(self):
        delattr(self, "email")

user = User("john_doe", "john@example.com")
user.remove_email()

print(hasattr(user, "email"))  # Output: False

Useful for resetting or cleaning up object properties.

3. Handling Missing Attributes Safely

Trying to delete a non-existent attribute raises an error. Handle it using hasattr().

class Product:
    def __init__(self, name, price):
        self.name = name
        self.price = price

product = Product("Laptop", 1200)

if hasattr(product, "price"):
    delattr(product, "price")

This ensures you only delete attributes that exist.

Key Notes

✔ Deletes an attribute dynamically – useful for modifying objects at runtime.
✔ Equivalent to del object.attribute, but allows for dynamic attribute names.
✔ Use hasattr() before deleting to avoid errors.
✔ Useful for cleanup methods in classes where attributes might change.

By using delattr(), you can modify objects dynamically, clean up attributes, and handle changing class structures efficiently. 🚀