# Classes Attributes vs Object Attributes

## Class Attributes

```python
class Vehicle:
	
	color = 'red' # This should not be changed
	engine = 'v6' # Should be static and should not be changed
 	
	def __init__(self, body_type, make):
		self.vehicle_body = body_type
		self.vehicle_make = make
		
```

{% hint style="danger" %}
**!!! BAD PRACTICE TO CHANGE THE CLASS ATTRIBUTES !!!** 
{% endhint %}

```python
# To change the color from the Class above, which you should not do:

Vehicle.color = 'green'
```

* This becomes a design problem as there are thousands of lines of code in a program.

**!!! THIS IS ALSO A BAD PRACTICE !!! :**

### Instance Variable

```python
car1 = Vehicle('suv', 'toyota')

# By changing the color for the car1 instance
# This changes the color just for the car1 instance
car1.color = 'purple'

# The class does not have a engine variable but by assigining it, you are creating an instance variable called v6 for car1. 
# The rest of the cars do not have an engine attribute
car1.engine = 'v6'
```

* This also becomes a design issue as other developers can assign car instances willy nilly making this an issue
* Makes interpreting the code hard

### Overview Recap:

```python
class Vehicle:
	# The varialbe should not be changed outside of the class specification
	# This is a class attribute
	vehicle_counter = 0
 	
	# This method will always run
	def __init__(self, body_type, make):
		self.vehicle_body = body_type
		self.vehicle_make = make
	
	# Returning a class attribute should be associated with the class
	# Should not be associated with the instance (self)
	def get_vehicle_count(self):
		return Vehicle.vehicle_counter
		
		# This increments the Class value and is not instance related
		Vehicle.vehicle_counter += 1
```


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