What are class methods and static methods in Python?

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

Sure! Class methods are methods that are bound to the class and not the instance of the class. They take a reference to the class as the first parameter, usually named 'cls'. Static methods, on the other hand, do not take a reference to the class or instance. They behave like regular functions but belong to the class's namespace.

Can you give me an example of each?

Of course! Here's an example:

class MyClass:
    @classmethod
    def class_method(cls):
        return 'This is a class method.'

    @staticmethod
    def static_method():
        return 'This is a static method.'

In this example, class_method can access class properties, while static_method cannot.

When should I use class methods over static methods?

Use class methods when you need to access or modify class state, and static methods when you don't need to access class or instance data but want to group functions logically within a class.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Generally, there are no significant performance differences. The choice between them should be based on functionality rather than performance.