Nested AttributeError improved messages don't work with properties

The Python 3.15 improved error message for nested attribute access doesn't seem to work on properties.

Rationale

Take the example from the What's new in Python 3.15 docs:

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class Circle:
   radius: float

   @property
   def area(self) -> float:
      return pi * self.radius**2

class Container:
   def __init__(self, inner: Circle) -> None:
      self.inner = inner

circle = Circle(radius=4.0)
container = Container(circle)
print(container.area)

Running it with the CPython main branch or Python 3.15.0a1 through Python 3.15.0a7 (with uv) produces the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/rodrigogs/Documents/cpython/../tmp/circle.py", line 17, in <module>
    print(container.area)
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: 'Container' object has no attribute 'area'

If you remove @property or if you try accessing container.radius instead, you get the respective improved messages:

# After removing `@property` from `area`:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/rodrigogs/Documents/cpython/../tmp/circle_no_prop.py", line 16, in <module>
    print(container.area)
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: 'Container' object has no attribute 'area'. Did you mean: 'inner.area'?

# ---

# Accessing `radius` instead of the property `area`:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/rodrigogs/Documents/cpython/../tmp/circle_radius.py", line 17, in <module>
    print(container.radius)
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: 'Container' object has no attribute 'radius'. Did you mean: 'inner.radius'?

Helper scripts for easier testing

circle.py — original example that doesn't work

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class Circle:
   radius: float

   @property
   def area(self) -> float:
      return pi * self.radius**2

class Container:
   def __init__(self, inner: Circle) -> None:
      self.inner = inner

circle = Circle(radius=4.0)
container = Container(circle)
print(container.area)

circle_radius.py — accessing radius works

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class Circle:
   radius: float

   @property
   def area(self) -> float:
      return pi * self.radius**2

class Container:
   def __init__(self, inner: Circle) -> None:
      self.inner = inner

circle = Circle(radius=4.0)
container = Container(circle)
print(container.radius)

circle_no_prop.py — removing the property works

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class Circle:
   radius: float

   # @property
   def area(self) -> float:
      return pi * self.radius**2

class Container:
   def __init__(self, inner: Circle) -> None:
      self.inner = inner

circle = Circle(radius=4.0)
container = Container(circle)
print(container.area)

CPython versions tested on:

3.15, CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on:

macOS

Linked PRs

gh-146171: Fix nested AttributeError suggestions #146188

@pablogsal

cc @pablogsal

@rodrigogiraoserrao

@rodrigogiraoserrao just analyzed the issue. The problem is that the nested attribute suggestion system doesn't understand properties. My proposed solution is to enhance the error suggestion algorithm to recognize property descriptors and examine their getter functions when generating suggestions. This would maintain the existing behavior for regular attributes while adding property support. What do you think? Any suggestions or options that will be a good fit for this issue?

pythongh-146171: Fix nested AttributeError suggestions

@rodrigogiraoserrao just analyzed the issue. The problem is that the nested attribute suggestion system doesn't understand properties. My proposed solution is to enhance the error suggestion algorithm to recognize property descriptors and examine their getter functions when generating suggestions. This would maintain the existing behavior for regular attributes while adding property support. What do you think? Any suggestions or options that will be a good fit for this issue?

Sorry, I didn't read this message earlier.

I ended up taking a slightly different approach from examining the getter function directly. The fix uses static attribute lookup for nested suggestions, so property-backed attributes can be suggested without executing the property getter. That keeps the existing behavior for regular attributes and avoids triggering arbitrary code while formatting the error.

If you want to help, reviewing the change and testing a few edge cases would be useful!

@rodrigogiraoserrao

Thanks @rodrigogiraoserrao for the find! ❤️

@pablogsal

@pablogsal I tested this PR locally with the property example from #146171 and confirmed:

✅ The property getter is not executed (no side effects)

✅ The tests test_getattr_nested_with_property passed and are working as they should

✅ The error message correctly suggests inner.computed for the property-backed attribute

Great work !!!!!!!!!!

@okiemute04

Thanks a lot @okiemute04 🖤

gh-146171: Fix nested AttributeError suggestions (#146188)

Well, that was quick. 👀 Thanks to both!

Merge remote-tracking branch 'upstream/main' into fix-pythongh-138577

pythongh-146171: Fix nested AttributeError suggestions (python#146188)

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Nested AttributeError improved messages don't work with properties #146171

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Nested AttributeError improved messages don't work with properties #146171

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Rationale

Helper scripts for easier testing

CPython versions tested on:

Operating systems tested on:

Linked PRs

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hugovk commented on Mar 19, 2026

okiemute04 commented on Mar 19, 2026

pablogsal commented on Mar 20, 2026

pablogsal commented on Mar 20, 2026

okiemute04 commented on Mar 20, 2026

pablogsal commented on Mar 20, 2026

rodrigogiraoserrao commented on Mar 20, 2026

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