non-public name

In Python, a non-public name refers to the name of a variable, function, method, or attribute that’s intended for internal use within a module or a class. These names are prefixed with an underscore (_) to signal that you shouldn’t access or modify them directly from outside the module or class.

Python doesn’t enforce strict access restrictions. Using a leading underscore is a naming convention that indicates the intended use of certain elements.

By marking a name as non-public, you indicate that the name is an implementation detail that may change in the future and isn’t intended to be used as part of the code’s public interface.

Example

Here’s an example of non-public names in a Python class:

class DemoClass:
    def __init__(self, value):
        self._hidden_value = value  # Non-public attribute

    def get_value(self):
        return self._hidden_value

# Usage
demo = DemoClass(42)
demo.get_value()  # Output: 42
# Don't do this
print(demo._hidden_value)  # Outputs: 42