Post #593

@#classmethod vs @#staticmethod vs "plain" methods What's the difference? class MyClass: def method(self): """ Instance methods need a class instance and can access the instance through self. """ return 'instance method called', self @classmethod def classmethod(cls): """ Class methods don't need a class instance. They can't access the instance (self) but they have access to the class itself via cls. """ return 'class method called', cls @staticmethod def staticmethod(): """ Static methods don't have access to cls or self. They work like regular functions but belong to the class's namespace. """ return 'static method called' # All methods types can be # called on a class instance: »> obj = MyClass() »> obj.method() ('instance method called', <MyClass instance at 0x1019381b8>) »> obj.classmethod() ('class method called', <class MyClass at 0x101a2f4c8>) »> obj.staticmethod() 'static method called' # Calling instance methods fails # if we only have the class object: »> MyClass.classmethod() ('class method called', <class MyClass at 0x101a2f4c8>) »> MyClass.staticmethod() 'static method called' »> MyClass.method() TypeError: "unbound method method() must be called with MyClass " "instance as first argument (got nothing instead)"