python - What information is __init__.storing? -

i read somewhere __init__ stores information while creating object. so, let's have code:

class bankaccount(object):     def __init__(self, deposit):         self.amount = deposit       def withdraw(self, amount):         self.amount -= amount      def deposit(self, amount):         self.amount += amount      def balance(self):         return self.amount   myaccount = bankaccount(16.20)  x = raw_input("what do?")  if x == "deposit":         myaccount.deposit(int(float(raw_input("how deposit?"))))     print "total balance is: ", myaccount.balance()    elif x == "withdraw":         myaccount.withdraw(int(float(raw_input("how withdraw?"))))     print "total balance is: ", myaccount.balance()     else:     print "please choose 'withdraw' or 'deposit'. thank you." 

what __init__ doing or storing. don't understand "self.amount" or how making = deposit anything. "self.amount" under __init__ same 1 under withdraw? i'm not understanding "self_amount" does.

q __init__ doing or storing?

a __init__ gets called whenever construct instance of class. applies classes. customary initialize data in function. in particular case, creating member data called amount , assigning same deposit argument passed function.

q don't understand "self.amount" or how making = deposit anything.

a statement self.amount = deposit accomplishes couple of things. creates member data of class named amount , assigns value of deposit.

q "self.amount" under __init__ same 1 under withdraw?

a yes.

q i'm not understanding "self.amount" does.

a allows capture data of object. every class needs figure out member data needs work correctly. in case, data need amount. if had class called employee, might like:

class employee(object):     def __init__(self, firstname, lastname, id, salary):         self.firstname = firstname          self.lastname = lastname          self.id = id          self.salary = salary