Using ParentClass.method(self, *args, **kwargs) or super(MyClass, self).method(*args, **kwargs)

Question

When one has a class that inherits from a single class, what is the preferred, and most pythonic, way to call parent methods? There are two ways that I know of to call the parent method.

Option 1:

ParentClass.method(self, *args, **kwargs)

Option 2:

super(MyClass, self).method(*args, **kwargs)

Option 1 definitely seems to make a lot of sense when dealing with multiple inheritance; we want to specifically call the method of a certain class. But when dealing with single inheritance, either way works, though Option 1 is probably more future safe. But is there anything (like a PEP) that says when to use which style?

Answer 1

First of all, if you have old-style classes you need to use Option 1 .

If not, it depends on the code:

• If the superclass (or subclasses) uses super (or nothing), you can safely use super. This also means your subclsses must use super instead of Parent.method(self, ...) .
• If the superclass (or subclasses) uses the old Parent.method(self, ...) , also use it.

There's a good and much more verbose explanation at http://fuhm.net/super-harmful/ . The short summary (even shorter than my explanation above):

• Subclasses must use super if their superclasses do
• Superclasses must use super if their subclasses do (sometimes)