What are static methods in Python?

What are static methods in Python?

Static methods in Python are methods that belong to a class rather than an instance of the class. They don't require a class instance to be called.

How do you define a static method?

You define a static method using the @staticmethod decorator before the method definition. For example:

class MyClass:
    @staticmethod
    def my_static_method():
        pass

What is the difference between static methods and class methods?

Static methods do not take a reference to the instance or class as the first argument, while class methods do, using the @classmethod decorator.

Can you give me an example of when to use a static method?

You might use a static method when you need a utility function that doesn't modify class or instance state, like a helper function.