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Table of Contents
How __len__ Works in a Custom Class
Common Use Cases and Examples
What Happens If You Return Something Invalid?
Home Backend Development Python Tutorial How do I use the __len__ method to define the length of an object in Python?

How do I use the __len__ method to define the length of an object in Python?

Jun 29, 2025 am 01:57 AM

To customize the object length returned by the len() function in Python, implement the __len__ method in the class and make sure it returns a non-negative integer. 1. The __len__ method does not accept parameters other than self and is used to define the concept of "length" of the object; 2. If this method is not implemented, calling len() will throw a TypeError; 3. The return value must be an integer and should have practical significance, such as representing the number of elements in the container; 4. Commonly used in classes similar to container or sequence behavior, such as shopping carts, custom lists, etc.; 5. Returning non-integers or negative numbers will cause errors or do not comply with the specifications; 6. Performance and consistency should be considered during implementation to make the class more "Pythonic" style.

How do I use the __len__ method to define the length of an object in Python?

When you want to define what len() should return for your custom object in Python, you implement the __len__ method. It's straightforward — just make sure it returns a non-negative integer.

How __len__ Works in a Custom Class

If you've created a class and want to use len(instance_of_your_class) , you need to define __len__ inside that class. This method doesn't take any arguments except self .

For example:

 class MyCollection:
    def __init__(self, items):
        self.items = items

    def __len__(self):
        return len(self.items)

Now when you do this:

 coll = MyCollection([1, 2, 3])
print(len(coll)) # Outputs: 3

It works because __len__ is returning the length of the internal list.

Keep in mind:

  • If you don't define __len__ , calling len() on an instance will raise a TypeError .
  • The return value must be an integer and ideally should represent something meaningful about your object.

Common Use Cases and Examples

You'll often see __len__ used in classes that behave like containers or sequences. For example:

  • A custom list wrapper
  • A database query result that supports pagination
  • A file reader that tracks how many lines are loaded

Here's another practical case: say you have a shopping cart class.

 class ShoppingCart:
    def __init__(self):
        self.products = []

    def add_product(self, product):
        self.products.append(product)

    def __len__(self):
        return len(self.products)

Now len(cart) gives you the number of products added — very intuitive behavior.

This helps especially if you're writing code that other developers might use. Having len() work as expected makes your class feel more "Pythonic".

What Happens If You Return Something Invalid?

The __len__ method must return an integer. If you return anything else — like a float, string, or even None — Python will throw a TypeError .

Try this:

 def __len__(self):
    return 'not-an-int'

And then call len(obj) — you'll get an error like:

 TypeError: 'str' object cannot be interpreted as an integer

Also, if you return a negative number, Python won't stop you directly, but it's considered bad practice. Built-in types usually avoid that, so it's best not to surprise users of your class.

Tips for Implementing __len__

  • Think about what “l(fā)ength” means for your object. Is it the number of items, characters, entries, or something else?
  • Make sure it's consistent with how other container-like objects behave.
  • Don't overcomplicate the logic unless necessary — keep performance in mind if computing length is expensive.

In short, implementing __len__ is simple, but choosing a logical and useful definition of length matters most.

Basically that's it.

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