How to get operator object from id?

Question

I'm writing a script that contains both an operator and a panel. Both the operator and the panel are created in the script's register() method. In my panel's draw() method, I'd like to be able to get a reference to the operator object so I can access its properties. Is there a way to look up the operator object using its ID?

--- Edit

To elaborate on the above - I'm trying to create an object picker field. The idea is that I have a string field called 'target'. I want my NormalToolPropsPanel panel to display a string field representing the target field of my operator. Then when the user clicks on the eyedropper icon, they can pick an object in the scene and its name will be filled into the field.

class ModalDrawOperator(bpy.types.Operator):
    """Adjust normals"""
    bl_idname = "kitfox.normal_tool"
    bl_label = "Normal Tool Kitfox"
prop_brush_type : bpy.props.EnumProperty(
    items=(
        ('FIXED', "Fixed", "Normals are in a fixed direction"),
        ('ATTRACT', "Attract", "Normals point toward target object"),
        ('REPEL', "Repel", "Normals point away from target object")
    ),
    default='FIXED'
)

prop_strength : bpy.props.FloatProperty(
    name="Strength", description="Amount to adjust mesh normal", default = 1, min=0, max = 1
)

prop_normal = bpy.props.FloatVectorProperty(name="Normal", description="Direction of normal in Fixed mode", default = (0, 1, 0))
prop_target = bpy.props.StringProperty(name="Target", description="Object Attract and Repel mode reference", default="")


def mouse_down(self, context, event):
    #Do the work here
    pass

def modal(self, context, event):
    context.area.tag_redraw()

    if event.type in {'MIDDLEMOUSE', 'WHEELUPMOUSE', 'WHEELDOWNMOUSE'}:
        # allow navigation
        return {'PASS_THROUGH'}

    elif event.type == 'MOUSEMOVE':
        pass
    elif event.type == 'LEFTMOUSE':
        self.mouse_down(context, event)
        pass

    elif event.type in {'RIGHTMOUSE', 'ESC'}:
        bpy.types.SpaceView3D.draw_handler_remove(self._handle, 'WINDOW')
        print("norm tool cancelled")
        return {'CANCELLED'}

    return {'PASS_THROUGH'}

def invoke(self, context, event):
    if context.area.type == 'VIEW_3D':
        # the arguments we pass the the callback
        args = (self, context)
        # Add the region OpenGL drawing callback
        # draw in view space with 'POST_VIEW' and 'PRE_VIEW'
        self._context = context
        self._handle = bpy.types.SpaceView3D.draw_handler_add(draw_callback, args, 'WINDOW', 'POST_VIEW')

        self.mouse_path = []

        context.window_manager.modal_handler_add(self)
        return {'RUNNING_MODAL'}
    else:
        self.report({'WARNING'}, "View3D not found, cannot run operator")
        return {'CANCELLED'}


#------------------------
class NTTargetPickerOperator(bpy.types.Operator):
    """Pick object with the mouse"""
    bl_idname = "kitfox.nt_pick_target_object"
    bl_label = "Normal Tool Pick Target Object Kitfox"
def mouse_down(self, context, event):
    mouse_pos = (event.mouse_region_x, event.mouse_region_y)

    ctx = bpy.context

    region = context.region
    rv3d = context.region_data
    view_vector = view3d_utils.region_2d_to_vector_3d(region, rv3d, mouse_pos)
    ray_origin = view3d_utils.region_2d_to_origin_3d(region, rv3d, mouse_pos)

    viewlayer = bpy.context.view_layer
    result, location, normal, index, object, matrix = context.scene.ray_cast(viewlayer.depsgraph, ray_origin, view_vector)

    if result:
        print("--picked " + object.name)

        #This doesn't work - I want to set the property 'target' on my operator
        bpy.ops.kitfox.normal_tool["prop_target.set"] = object.name


def modal(self, context, event):

    if event.type == 'LEFTMOUSE':
        self.mouse_down(context, event)
        bpy.types.SpaceView3D.draw_handler_remove(self._handle, 'WINDOW')
        return {'FINISHED'}

    elif event.type in {'RIGHTMOUSE', 'ESC'}:
        bpy.types.SpaceView3D.draw_handler_remove(self._handle, 'WINDOW')
        print("pick target object cancelled")
        return {'CANCELLED'}
    else:
        return {'PASS_THROUGH'}

def invoke(self, context, event):
    if context.area.type == 'VIEW_3D':
        # the arguments we pass the the callback
        args = (self, context)
        # Add the region OpenGL drawing callback
        # draw in view space with 'POST_VIEW' and 'PRE_VIEW'
        self._context = context
        self._handle = bpy.types.SpaceView3D.draw_handler_add(draw_callback, args, 'WINDOW', 'POST_VIEW')

        context.window_manager.modal_handler_add(self)
        return {'RUNNING_MODAL'}
    else:
        self.report({'WARNING'}, "View3D not found, cannot run operator")
        return {'CANCELLED'}


#------------------------
class NormalToolPropsPanel(bpy.types.Panel):
"""Properties Panel for the Normal Tool on tool shelf"""
bl_label = "Normal Tool Properties Panel"
bl_idname = "3D_VIEW_PT_normal_tool_props"
bl_space_type = 'VIEW_3D'
bl_region_type = 'UI'



def draw(self, context):
    layout = self.layout

    obj = context.object

    props = layout.operator(ModalDrawOperator.bl_idname)

    row = layout.row()

    #Not working - I want to refer to the property in my operator
    row.prop(bpy.ops.kitfox.normal_tool, "prop_target", expand=True)

    pickOp = layout.operator(NTTargetPickerOperator.bl_idname, icon="EYEDROPPER")


#------------------------
def register():
    bpy.utils.register_class(NTTargetPickerOperator)
    bpy.utils.register_class(ModalDrawOperator)
    bpy.utils.register_class(NormalToolPropsPanel)
def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(NTTargetPickerOperator)
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(ModalDrawOperator)
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(NormalToolPropsPanel)
if name == "main":
    register()

Answer 1

Make a settings group and use a pointer property for target object

With regard to edit

To elaborate on the above - I'm trying to create an object picker field. The idea is that I have a string field called 'target'. I want my NormalToolPropsPanel panel to display a string field representing the target field of my operator. Then when the user clicks on the eyedropper icon, they can pick an object in the scene and its name will be filled into the field.

as commented feel this is better done with a pointer property.

import bpy
from bpy_extras import view3d_utils
class NormalToolSettings(bpy.types.PropertyGroup):
    brush_type : bpy.props.EnumProperty(
        items=(
            ('FIXED', "Fixed", "Normals are in a fixed direction"),
            ('ATTRACT', "Attract", "Normals point toward target object"),
            ('REPEL', "Repel", "Normals point away from target object")
        ),
        default='FIXED'
    )
strength : bpy.props.FloatProperty(
    name="Strength", description="Amount to adjust mesh normal", default = 1, min=0, max = 1
)

normal : bpy.props.FloatVectorProperty(name="Normal", description="Direction of normal in Fixed mode", default = (0, 1, 0))
target : bpy.props.PointerProperty(type=bpy.types.Object)



#---------------------------
class NormalToolPropsPanel(bpy.types.Panel):
"""Properties Panel for the Normal Tool on tool shelf"""
bl_label = "Normal Tool Properties Panel"
bl_idname = "VIEW3D_PT_normal_tool_props"
bl_space_type = 'VIEW_3D'
bl_region_type = 'UI'
bl_category = "KitFox"


def draw(self, context):
    layout = self.layout

    scene = context.scene
    settings = scene.my_tool

    col = layout.column()
    col.prop(settings, "strength")
    col.prop(settings, "brush_type")
    col.prop(settings, "normal")
    col.prop(settings, "target")                       

#---------------------------
def register():
    bpy.utils.register_class(NormalToolSettings)
    bpy.utils.register_class(NormalToolPropsPanel)
bpy.types.Scene.my_tool = bpy.props.PointerProperty(type=NormalToolSettings)



def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(NormalToolSettings)
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(NormalToolPropsPanel)
if name == "main":
    register()

If you wish to set this to something else in modal then when you know the object

context.scene.my_tool.target = hit_object

and it will update in the UI.

Tip: Look at the subtypes of FloatVectorProperty for other options to keep the value normalized.