What is the difference between __init__ and __call__?

The first is used to initialise newly created object, and receives arguments used to do that:

class Foo:
    def __init__(self, a, b, c):
        # ...

x = Foo(1, 2, 3) # __init__

The second implements function call operator.

class Foo:
    def __call__(self, a, b, c):
        # ...

x = Foo()
x(1, 2, 3) # __call__

Defining a custom __call__() method in the meta-class allows the class's instance to be called as a function, not always modifying the instance itself.

In [1]: class A:
   ...:     def __init__(self):
   ...:         print "init"
   ...:         
   ...:     def __call__(self):
   ...:         print "call"
   ...:         
   ...:         

In [2]: a = A()
init

In [3]: a()
call

In Python, functions are first-class objects, this means: function references can be passed in inputs to other functions and/or methods, and executed from inside them.

Instances of Classes (aka Objects), can be treated as if they were functions: pass them to other methods/functions and call them. In order to achieve this, the __call__ class function has to be specialized.

def __call__(self, [args ...]) It takes as an input a variable number of arguments. Assuming x being an instance of the Class X, x.__call__(1, 2) is analogous to calling x(1,2) or the instance itself as a function.

In Python, __init__() is properly defined as Class Constructor (as well as __del__() is the Class Destructor). Therefore, there is a net distinction between __init__() and __call__(): the first builds an instance of Class up, the second makes such instance callable as a function would be without impacting the lifecycle of the object itself (i.e. __call__ does not impact the construction/destruction lifecycle) but it can modify its internal state (as shown below).

Example.

class Stuff(object):

    def __init__(self, x, y, range):
        super(Stuff, self).__init__()
        self.x = x
        self.y = y
        self.range = range

    def __call__(self, x, y):
        self.x = x
        self.y = y
        print '__call__ with (%d,%d)' % (self.x, self.y)

    def __del__(self):
        del self.x
        del self.y
        del self.range

>>> s = Stuff(1, 2, 3)
>>> s.x
1
>>> s(7, 8)
__call__ with (7,8)
>>> s.x
7

__call__ makes the instance of a class callable. Why would it be required?

Technically __init__ is called once by __new__ when object is created, so that it can be initialized.

But there are many scenarios where you might want to redefine your object, say you are done with your object, and may find a need for a new object. With __call__ you can redefine the same object as if it were new.

This is just one case, there can be many more.

>>> class A:
...     def __init__(self):
...         print "From init ... "
... 
>>> a = A()
From init ... 
>>> a()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: A instance has no __call__ method
>>> 
>>> class B:
...     def __init__(self):
...         print "From init ... "
...     def __call__(self):
...         print "From call ... "
... 
>>> b = B()
From init ... 
>>> b()
From call ... 
>>>