What are class and static methods in programming?

Can you explain the difference between class methods and static methods?

Sure! Class methods are bound to the class and can modify class state, while static methods do not access class or instance data.

Can you give me an example of each?

Of course! A class method can be defined using @classmethod and can modify a class variable. A static method is defined with @staticmethod and doesn't modify class or instance state.

What are some use cases for static methods?

Static methods are useful for utility functions that don't need access to class or instance data, like mathematical calculations.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Generally, static methods can be slightly faster since they don't require a reference to the class or instance, but the difference is often negligible.