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Module Glossary

Page Maps

graph LR
  family["Python Programming"]
  program["Python Meta-Programming"]
  section["Class Customization Pre Metaclasses"]
  page["Module Glossary"]
  capstone["Capstone evidence"]

  family --> program --> section --> page
  page -.applies in.-> capstone
flowchart LR
  orient["Orient on the page map"] --> read["Read the main claim and examples"]
  read --> inspect["Inspect the related code, proof, or capstone surface"]
  inspect --> verify["Run or review the verification path"]
  verify --> apply["Apply the idea back to the module and capstone"]

This glossary belongs to Module 06: Class Customization Before Metaclasses in Python Metaprogramming. It keeps the language of this directory stable so the same ideas keep the same names across lessons, practice, review, and capstone discussion.

How to use this glossary

Use the glossary when a class-level discussion starts to blur together generated convenience, attribute-boundary control, reusable descriptors, and true class-creation power. Module 06 is meant to keep those boundaries explicit.

Terms in this directory

Term Meaning in this directory
Attribute boundary The point where a read, write, or delete operation crosses into class-controlled logic for one attribute.
Class customization boundary The design line where you choose between plain class code, a class decorator, a property, a descriptor, or a metaclass.
Class decorator A callable that takes a class object after creation, modifies or replaces it, and returns the resulting class binding.
Data descriptor A descriptor that defines __set__, __delete__, or both, and therefore wins over instance-dictionary entries during attribute lookup.
Dataclass generation The automatic creation of methods such as __init__ and __repr__ from field declarations.
Deep immutability A stronger claim that nested mutable objects are also made immutable, which this module deliberately does not promise with a minimal @frozen decorator.
Descriptor-backed validation Validation owned by a reusable descriptor rather than by repeated property setters or constructor-only checks.
Lower-power ladder The ordered review habit of preferring plain code, then class decorators, then attribute-boundary tools, and only later metaclasses if required.
Metaclass escalation The move from post-construction or attribute-boundary customization into class-creation-time control.
Post-construction transformation A class change that happens after the class object already exists, such as registration or method injection by a class decorator.
Property A built-in descriptor used to control one attribute through managed getter, setter, and deleter methods.
Shallow runtime contract A runtime rule that checks one visible surface, such as assignment to an attribute, without claiming complete semantic enforcement.
Surface immutability The narrower rule that instance attributes cannot be rebound or deleted after initialization, even though nested objects may still mutate.
__delattr__ The attribute-deletion hook that can be overridden to reject or control deletion on an instance.
__post_init__ The dataclass hook that runs after generated initialization, often used for explicit validation or normalization.
__setattr__ The attribute-assignment hook that can intercept writes and enforce post-initialization rules.

Keep the module connected