Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: How do I implement __getattribute__ without an infinite recursion error?

Override access to a variable in a class without infinite recursion error.

Quick Answer: Use the super() function to call the parent's __getattribute__ method for all attributes except the one you want to override.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

Infinite recursion errors can occur when using __getattribute__ in Python, affecting developers who want to override access to specific variables in a class.

This error is frustrating as it prevents the normal behavior of accessing other attributes and causes unexpected results.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this issue is that __getattribute__ is called recursively when trying to access an attribute that has been overridden.
  • Another possible cause could be a misunderstanding of how __getattribute__ works or incorrect implementation of the method

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

__getattribute__ with a workaround

  1. Step 1: To avoid infinite recursion, use the 'getattr' function to access attributes in a class.
  2. Step 2: Replace the __getattribute__ method with a custom implementation that uses 'getattr' for all attributes except the one being overridden.
  3. Step 3: Use a dictionary or other data structure to map attribute names to their corresponding values.

__getattribute__ with a different approach

  1. Step 1: Implement __getattribute__ in a way that checks if the requested attribute is the one being overridden, and returns a default value or raises an exception otherwise.
  2. Step 2: Use a decorator to implement the custom behavior for specific attributes without modifying the class's __dict__.

✨ Wrapping Up

By understanding the root causes of infinite recursion errors in Python and using workarounds such as 'getattr' or custom implementations, developers can effectively override access to specific variables in a class while maintaining normal behavior for other attributes.

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