Why is it recommended to implement the __str__ method in Python and what is its purpose?

The __str__ method in Python is responsible for the string representation of an object that is easy for humans to read. Its implementation allows calling print(obj) or str(obj) to produce a clear and informative description of the object.

If __str__ is not implemented, Python uses the __repr__ method, which is often less readable.

Example:

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def __str__(self):
        return f"Person(name={self.name}, age={self.age})"

p = Person("Ivan", 30)
print(p)  # Outputs: Person(name=Ivan, age=30)

Thus, __str__ enhances the ease of debugging and interacting with objects.