__str__ and __repr__

The __str__ method in Python represents the class objects as a string – it can be used for classes. The __str__ method should be defined in a way that is easy to read and outputs all the members of the class. This method is also used as a debugging tool when the members of a class need to be checked.

The __str__ method is called when the following functions are invoked on the object and return a string:

• print()
• str()

If we have not defined the __str__, then it will call the __repr__ method. The __repr__ method returns a string that describes the pointer of the object by default (if the programmer does not define it).