Python __rand__() Magic Method

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Syntax

object.__rand__(self, other)

The Python __rand__() method implements the reverse Bitwise AND * operation with reflected, swapped operands. So, when you call x * y, Python attempts to call x.__and__(y). If the method is not implemented, Python attempts to call __rand__ on the right operand and if this isn’t implemented either, it raises a TypeError.

We call this a “Dunder Method” for “Double Underscore Method” (also called “magic method”). To get a list of all dunder methods with explanation, check out our dunder cheat sheet article on this blog.

Background Bitwise AND &

Python’s bitwise AND operator performs performs logical AND on each bit position on the binary representations of integers x and y.

Thus, each output bit is 1 if both input bits at the same position are 1, otherwise, it’s 0.

For example, the integer expression 4 & 3 is translated to binaries 0100 & 0011 which results in 0000 because all four input bit positions are different.

In this example, you apply the bitwise AND operator to two integers 32 and 16:

>>> 32 & 16
0

The expression 32 & 16 operates on the bit representations "010000" (decimal 32) and "001000" (decimal 16) and performs bitwise AND. As all i-th bit positions are different, the result is 0:

First Operand x100000
Second Operand y010000
x & y000000

To understand this operation in detail, feel free to read over our tutorial or watch the following video:

Python __and__ vs __rand__

Say, you want to calculate the & operation on two custom objects x and y:

print(x & y)

Python first tries to call the left object’s __and__() method x.__and__(y). But this may fail for two reasons:

  1. The method x.__and__() is not implemented in the first place, or
  2. The method x.__and__() is implemented but returns a NotImplemented value indicating that the data types are incompatible.

If this fails, Python tries to fix it by calling the y.__rand__() for reverse bitwise AND on the right operand y.

If the reverse bitwise AND method is implemented, Python knows that it doesn’t run into a potential problem of a non-commutative operation. If it would just execute y.__and__(x) instead of x.__and__(y), the result would be wrong because the operation may be non-commutative when defined as a custom operation. That’s why y.__rand__(x) is needed.

So, the difference between x.__and__(y) and x.__rand__(y) is that the former calculates x & y whereas the latter calculates y & x — both calling the respective method defined on the object x.

You can see this in effect here where we attempt to call the operation on the left operand x—but as it’s not implemented, Python simply calls the reverse operation on the right operand y.

class Data_1:
    pass

class Data_2:
    def __rand__(self, other):
        return 'called reverse bitwise AND'


x = Data_1()
y = Data_2()

print(x & y)
# called reverse bitwise XOR

References:

Where to Go From Here?

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