Quick Check: Python Custom Attribute Access

Review

1. Which hook is called for an instance attribute read before the normal lookup returns a value?

   __getattribute__ is the primary instance attribute-read hook; __getattr__ is only a fallback after an AttributeError.
2. When is __getattr__ normally called?

   __getattr__ is called only when normal instance attribute access cannot find the attribute and raises AttributeError.
3. Why does a custom __getattribute__ method commonly call object.__getattribute__(self, name)?

   Using object.__getattribute__ asks the base implementation to perform normal lookup without recursively routing the helper lookup back through the override.
4. Which hook customizes instance attribute assignment?

   __setattr__ is invoked when an instance attribute assignment is attempted.
5. What can the optional third argument to getattr(obj, name, default) provide?

   When the named attribute cannot be found, getattr can return its third argument instead of raising AttributeError.