Python __call__() Method

The call() Method

The __call__() method lets an object be called like a function, using object() syntax.

Example

Create a ClickCounter object that can be called like a function, to count clicks on a button:

class ClickCounter:
  def __init__(self):
    self.clicks = 0

  def __call__(self):
    self.clicks += 1
    return self.clicks

button_clicks = ClickCounter()

print(button_clicks())
print(button_clicks())
print(button_clicks())

Note: button_clicks is an object, not a function - but __call__() lets you use it with the same () syntax as a function. Unlike a regular function, it remembers its own state between calls, so the count keeps going up each time it is called.