Simple example of a pratical method to create private attributes in Python using functions closures

PrivateAttributes.py

class People:
  '''Just a class to save the name of a people'''
  def __init__(self, name):
    '''Just saves the name of a people'''
    obj = {} #A internal variable to save the state of the attribute
    def setName(new_name):
      '''Just a function to set the name of a people'''
      obj["name"] = new_name #It's available in the internal variable representation
    self.setName = setName #Just point it to the object
    def getName():
      '''Just return the name of a people, configurated in the object'''
      return obj["name"]
    self.getName = getName
    obj["name"] = name
#Just it, now, to test...
fernando = People("Fernando")
print fernando.getName() #Returns the name "Fernando"
print fernando.name #Returns attribute error
print fernando.obj #Returns attribute error too
fernando.setName("Just a test")
print fernando.getName() #Returns 'Just a test'..Only this =P

# Cool, not?