When __repr__() is called?

print OBJECT calls OBJECT.__str__(), then when OBJECT.__repr__() is called? I see that print OBJECT calls OBJECT.__repr__() when OBJECT.__str__() doesn't exist, but I expect that's not the only way to call __repr__().

From stackoverflow prosseek

• repr(obj)
  

  calls

  obj.__repr__
  

  the purpose of __repr__ is that it provides a 'formal' representation of the object that is supposed to be a expression that can be evaled to create the object. that is,

  obj == eval(repr(obj))
  

  should, but does not always in practice, yield True

  I was asked in the comments for an example of when obj != eval(repr(obj)).

  class BrokenRepr(object):
      def __repr__(self):
          return "not likely"
  

  here's another one:

  >>> con = sqlite3.connect(':memory:')
  >>> repr(con)
  '<sqlite3.Connection object at 0xb773b520>'
  >>> 
  

  inspectorG4dget : Why does obj == eval(repr(obj)) not always give True? Would you be able to give an example?

  Avi : For a complex object, such as a file, it will not necessarily return True.

  Mike Axiak : @inspectorG4dget: obj == eval(type('myclass', (), {}))

  inspectorG4dget : Many thanks @AaronMcSmooth, @Avi, @MikeAxiak for explaining this. ++ to all
  From aaronasterling

• repr(obj) calls obj.__repr__.

  This is intended to clearly describe an object, specially for debugging purposes. More info in the docs

  Flávio Amieiro : @S.Lott thanks for pointing out my markup mistake, it's fixed now. I just don't know which guidelines you're referring to.
  From Flávio Amieiro

• In python 2.x, `obj` will end up calling obj.__repr__(). It's shorthand for repr().

  S.Lott : -1: Deprecated syntax, which will be removed.

  recursive : @S. Lott: Noted in answer
  From recursive

• Not only does repr get called when you use repr(), but also in the following cases:

  1. You type obj in the shell and press enter.
  2. You ever print an object in a dictionary/tuple/list. E.g.: print [u'test'] does not print ['test']
  From Mike Axiak