Python setter not working when attribute starts with "__"?

Question

I am using Python 3.8.6 and this works fine

class A:
    @property
    def _a(self):
        return getattr(self, '_a_', 0)

    @_a.setter
    def _a(self, value):
        self._a_ = value


a = A()
print(a._a)  # prints 0
a._a = 10
print(a._a)  # prints 10 as expected

This doesn't work

class A:
    @property
    def _a(self):
        return getattr(self, '__a', 0)

    @_a.setter
    def _a(self, value):
        self.__a = value

a = A()
print(a._a)  # prints 0
a._a = 10
print(a._a)  # prints 0 again

That's mind blowing! the only difference between the first and second example is that the private attribute is __a instead of _a_

Any idea why? I wasn't able to figure it out

Answer 1

It due to private name mangling . The fix is simple:

class A:
    @property
    def _a(self):
        return getattr(self, '_A__a', 0)

    @_a.setter
    def _a(self, value):
        self.__a = value

a = A()
print(a._a)  # prints 0
a._a = 10
print(a._a)  # prints 10 now