Note that the class objects described here represent old-style classes, which will go away in Python 3. When creating new types for extension modules, you will want to work with type objects (section Type Objects).

PyClassObject

The C structure of the objects used to describe built-in classes.

PyObject* PyClass_Type

This is the type object for class objects; it is the same object as types.ClassType in the Python layer.

int PyClass_Check ( PyObject  *o )

Return true if the object o is a class object, including instances of types derived from the standard class object. Return false in all other cases.

int PyClass_IsSubclass ( PyObject  *klass, PyObject  *base )

Return true if klass is a subclass of base. Return false in all other cases.

There are very few functions specific to instance objects.

PyTypeObject PyInstance_Type

Type object for class instances.

int PyInstance_Check ( PyObject  *obj )

Return true if obj is an instance.

PyObject* PyInstance_New ( PyObject  *class, PyObject  *arg, PyObject  *kw )

Return value: New reference.

Create a new instance of a specific class. The parameters arg and kw are used as the positional and keyword parameters to the object’s constructor.

PyObject* PyInstance_NewRaw ( PyObject  *class, PyObject  *dict )

Return value: New reference.

Create a new instance of a specific class without calling its constructor. class is the class of new object. The dict parameter will be used as the object’s __dict__; if NULL, a new dictionary will be created for the instance.