Answer by kmario23 for What is the purpose of the word 'self'?

Take a look at the following example, which clearly explains the purpose of self

class Restaurant(object):      bankrupt = False    def open_branch(self):        if not self.bankrupt:           print("branch opened")#create instance1>>> x = Restaurant()>>> x.bankruptFalse#create instance2>>> y = Restaurant()>>> y.bankrupt = True   >>> y.bankruptTrue>>> x.bankruptFalse  

self is used/needed to distinguish between instances.