Example NumPy Style Python Docstrings — Sphinx 1.4 documentation

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# Example NumPy Style Python Docstrings

See also

Example Google Style Python Docstrings

Download: `example_numpy.py`

    # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
    """Example NumPy style docstrings.

    This module demonstrates documentation as specified by the `NumPy
    Documentation HOWTO`_. Docstrings may extend over multiple lines. Sections
    are created with a section header followed by an underline of equal length.

    Example
    -------
    Examples can be given using either the ``Example`` or ``Examples``
    sections. Sections support any reStructuredText formatting, including
    literal blocks::

        $ python example_numpy.py

    Section breaks are created with two blank lines. Section breaks are also
    implicitly created anytime a new section starts. Section bodies *may* be
    indented:

    Notes
    -----
        This is an example of an indented section. It's like any other section,
        but the body is indented to help it stand out from surrounding text.

    If a section is indented, then a section break is created by
    resuming unindented text.

    Attributes
    ----------
    module_level_variable1 : int
        Module level variables may be documented in either the ``Attributes``
        section of the module docstring, or in an inline docstring immediately
        following the variable.

        Either form is acceptable, but the two should not be mixed. Choose
        one convention to document module level variables and be consistent
        with it.

    .. _NumPy Documentation HOWTO:
       https://github.com/numpy/numpy/blob/master/doc/HOWTO_DOCUMENT.rst.txt

    """

    module_level_variable1 = 12345

    module_level_variable2 = 98765
    """int: Module level variable documented inline.

    The docstring may span multiple lines. The type may optionally be specified
    on the first line, separated by a colon.
    """

    def module_level_function(param1, param2=None, *args, **kwargs):
        """This is an example of a module level function.

        Function parameters should be documented in the ``Parameters`` section.
        The name of each parameter is required. The type and description of each
        parameter is optional, but should be included if not obvious.

        Parameter types -- if given -- should be specified according to
        `PEP 484`_, though `PEP 484`_ conformance isn't required or enforced.

        If \*args or \*\*kwargs are accepted,
        they should be listed as ``*args`` and ``**kwargs``.

        The format for a parameter is::

            name : type
                description

                The description may span multiple lines. Following lines
                should be indented to match the first line of the description.
                The ": type" is optional.

                Multiple paragraphs are supported in parameter
                descriptions.

        Parameters
        ----------
        param1 : int
            The first parameter.
        param2 : Optional[str]
            The second parameter.
        *args
            Variable length argument list.
        **kwargs
            Arbitrary keyword arguments.

        Returns
        -------
        bool
            True if successful, False otherwise.

            The return type is not optional. The ``Returns`` section may span
            multiple lines and paragraphs. Following lines should be indented to
            match the first line of the description.

            The ``Returns`` section supports any reStructuredText formatting,
            including literal blocks::

                {
                    'param1': param1,
                    'param2': param2
                }

        Raises
        ------
        AttributeError
            The ``Raises`` section is a list of all exceptions
            that are relevant to the interface.
        ValueError
            If `param2` is equal to `param1`.

        .. _PEP 484:
           https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0484/

        """
        if param1 == param2:
            raise ValueError('param1 may not be equal to param2')
        return True

    def example_generator(n):
        """Generators have a ``Yields`` section instead of a ``Returns`` section.

        Parameters
        ----------
        n : int
            The upper limit of the range to generate, from 0 to `n` - 1.

        Yields
        ------
        int
            The next number in the range of 0 to `n` - 1.

        Examples
        --------
        Examples should be written in doctest format, and should illustrate how
        to use the function.

        >>> print([i for i in example_generator(4)])
        [0, 1, 2, 3]

        """
        for i in range(n):
            yield i

    class ExampleError(Exception):
        """Exceptions are documented in the same way as classes.

        The __init__ method may be documented in either the class level
        docstring, or as a docstring on the __init__ method itself.

        Either form is acceptable, but the two should not be mixed. Choose one
        convention to document the __init__ method and be consistent with it.

        Note
        ----
        Do not include the `self` parameter in the ``Parameters`` section.

        Parameters
        ----------
        msg : str
            Human readable string describing the exception.
        code : Optional[int]
            Numeric error code.

        Attributes
        ----------
        msg : str
            Human readable string describing the exception.
        code : int
            Numeric error code.

        """

        def __init__(self, msg, code):
            self.msg = msg
            self.code = code

    class ExampleClass(object):
        """The summary line for a class docstring should fit on one line.

        If the class has public attributes, they may be documented here
        in an ``Attributes`` section and follow the same formatting as a
        function's ``Args`` section. Alternatively, attributes may be documented
        inline with the attribute's declaration (see __init__ method below).

        Properties created with the ``@property`` decorator should be documented
        in the property's getter method.

        Attribute and property types -- if given -- should be specified according
        to `PEP 484`_, though `PEP 484`_ conformance isn't required or enforced.

        Attributes
        ----------
        attr1 : str
            Description of `attr1`.
        attr2 : Optional[int]
            Description of `attr2`.

        .. _PEP 484:
           https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0484/

        """

        def __init__(self, param1, param2, param3):
            """Example of docstring on the __init__ method.

            The __init__ method may be documented in either the class level
            docstring, or as a docstring on the __init__ method itself.

            Either form is acceptable, but the two should not be mixed. Choose one
            convention to document the __init__ method and be consistent with it.

            Note
            ----
            Do not include the `self` parameter in the ``Parameters`` section.

            Parameters
            ----------
            param1 : str
                Description of `param1`.
            param2 : List[str]
                Description of `param2`. Multiple
                lines are supported.
            param3 : Optional[int]
                Description of `param3`.

            """
            self.attr1 = param1
            self.attr2 = param2
            self.attr3 = param3  #: Doc comment *inline* with attribute

            #: List[str]: Doc comment *before* attribute, with type specified
            self.attr4 = ["attr4"]

            self.attr5 = None
            """Optional[str]: Docstring *after* attribute, with type specified."""

        @property
        def readonly_property(self):
            """str: Properties should be documented in their getter method."""
            return "readonly_property"

        @property
        def readwrite_property(self):
            """List[str]: Properties with both a getter and setter should only
            be documented in their getter method.

            If the setter method contains notable behavior, it should be
            mentioned here.
            """
            return ["readwrite_property"]

        @readwrite_property.setter
        def readwrite_property(self, value):
            value

        def example_method(self, param1, param2):
            """Class methods are similar to regular functions.

            Note
            ----
            Do not include the `self` parameter in the ``Parameters`` section.

            Parameters
            ----------
            param1
                The first parameter.
            param2
                The second parameter.

            Returns
            -------
            bool
                True if successful, False otherwise.

            """
            return True

        def __special__(self):
            """By default special members with docstrings are not included.

            Special members are any methods or attributes that start with and
            end with a double underscore. Any special member with a docstring
            will be included in the output, if
            ``napoleon_include_special_with_doc`` is set to True.

            This behavior can be enabled by changing the following setting in
            Sphinx's conf.py::

                napoleon_include_special_with_doc = True

            """
            pass

        def __special_without_docstring__(self):
            pass

        def _private(self):
            """By default private members are not included.

            Private members are any methods or attributes that start with an
            underscore and are *not* special. By default they are not included
            in the output.

            This behavior can be changed such that private members *are* included
            by changing the following setting in Sphinx's conf.py::

                napoleon_include_private_with_doc = True

            """
            pass

        def _private_without_docstring(self):
            pass