What are class method decorators in Python?

What are class method decorators in Python?

Class method decorators in Python are used to define methods that belong to the class rather than an instance of the class. They are defined using the @classmethod decorator.

Can you give me an example of how to use a class method decorator?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class MyClass:
    class_variable = 0

    @classmethod
    def increment_class_variable(cls):
        cls.class_variable += 1

MyClass.increment_class_variable()
print(MyClass.class_variable)  # Output: 1

What is the difference between class methods and instance methods?

Class methods take a class as the first argument (usually named cls), while instance methods take an instance of the class (usually named self). This means class methods can access class variables, while instance methods can access instance variables.

When should I use class method decorators?

You should use class method decorators when you need to access or modify class state that is shared across all instances, or when you want to create factory methods that return an instance of the class.