Python

Class and Static Method in Python: Differences

What is Class Method in Python?

The built-in function decorator @classmethod is an expression that is evaluated just after the definition of your function. The result of such a evaluation casts a shadow over your function definition. Similar to how an instance method receives the instance, a class method also takes the class as an implicit first argument.

Syntax of Python Class Method:

Below is the syntax for using the Class Method in python:

class ClassName(object):
@classmethod
def method(cls, arg1, arg2, ...):
....

Return Value:

It returns a Class method for the function.

Class Method Properties

A class method is one that is attached to the class itself rather than the class's object.
As it takes a class parameter that points to the class and not the object instance, they have access to the class's state.
It has the ability to change a class state that would impact every instance of the class. For instance, it could change a class variable that would affect all instances.

What is Static Method in Python?

A static method is a method that is tied to the class instead of the class's object. It is not possible to pass an implicit first argument to a static method. The class state cannot be accessed or changed by this method. It is present in a class because having the method in a class makes sense.

Syntax of Python Static Method:

Below is the syntax for using the Static Method in python:

class ClassName(object):
@staticmethod
def method(arg1, arg2, ...):
....

Return Value:

It returns a Static method for the function.

Static Method vs Class Method

The Difference between Class Method and Static method is stated below.

While a static method requires no specific parameters, a class method takes cls as its first argument.
While a static method cannot access or modify the class state, a class method can.
Static methods are typically unaware of the class state. They are utility methods that operate on some parameters after receiving them. On the other hand, class must be a parameter for class methods.
Python's @classmethod decorator and @staticmethod decorator are used to create class methods and static methods, respectively.

When do we use Class Methods and Static Methods

To create factory methods, we typically use the class method. For various use cases, factory methods return class objects that resemble constructors.
To create utility functions, we frequently use static methods.

How to Define and Use Class Methods and Static Methods

For Defining a class method, we use @classmethod decorator and for defining a static method, we use @staticmethod decorator.

For understanding them better, lets take a look at an example in which we are using both the class method and static method.

Example: Using Class methods and static methods

# Python program to demonstrate
# use of class method and static method.
from datetime import date

class Vehicle:
def __init__(self, name, tyre):
self.name = name
self.tyre = tyre

# a class method to create a Car object by name.
@classmethod
def checkBike(cls, name):
if(name=="Bike"):
return cls(name, 2)

# a static method to check if the Vehicle is car or not
@staticmethod
def isCar(name):
return name == "Car"

vehicle1 = Vehicle.checkBike('Bike')
vehicle2 = Vehicle('Car', 4)

print(vehicle1.tyre)
print(vehicle2.tyre)

# print the result
print(Vehicle.isCar("Car"))

Output:

2
4
True

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