I don't understand this python __del__ behavio

Question

Can someone explain why the following code behaves the way it does:

import types

class Dummy():
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
    def __del__(self):
        print "delete",self.name

d1 = Dummy("d1")
del d1
d1 = None
print "after d1"

d2 = Dummy("d2")
def func(self):
    print "func called"
d2.func = types.MethodType(func, d2)
d2.func()
del d2
d2 = None
print "after d2"

d3 = Dummy("d3")
def func(self):
    print "func called"
d3.func = types.MethodType(func, d3)
d3.func()
d3.func = None
del d3
d3 = None
print "after d3"

The output (note that the destructor for d2 is never called) is this (python 2.7)

delete d1
after d1
func called
after d2
func called
delete d3
after d3

Is there a way to "fix" the code so the destructor is called without deleting the method added? I mean, the best place to put the d2.func = None would be in the destructor!

Thanks

[edit] Based on the first few answers, I'd like to clarify that I'm not asking about the merits (or lack thereof) of using __del__. I tried to create the shortest function that would demonstrate what I consider to be non-intuitive behavior. I'm assuming a circular reference has been created, but I'm not sure why. If possible, I'd like to know how to avoid the circular reference....

Answer 1

del doesn't call __del__

del in the way you are using removes a local variable. __del__ is called when the object is destroyed. Python as a language makes no guarantees as to when it will destroy an object.

CPython as the most common implementation of Python, uses reference counting. As a result del will often work as you expect. However it will not work in the case that you have a reference cycle.

d3 -> d3.func -> d3

Python doesn't detect this and so won't clean it up right away. And its not just reference cycles. If an exception is throw you probably want to still call your destructor. However, Python will typically hold onto to the local variables as part of its traceback.

The solution is not to depend on the __del__ method. Rather, use a context manager.

class Dummy:
   def __enter__(self):
       return self

   def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
       print "Destroying", self

with Dummy() as dummy:
    # Do whatever you want with dummy in here
# __exit__ will be called before you get here

This is guaranteed to work, and you can even check the parameters to see whether you are handling an exception and do something different in that case.