When should I use class methods instead of instance methods?

When should I use class methods instead of instance methods?

Class methods are used when you need to operate on the class itself rather than on instances of the class. For example, if you want to create a factory method that returns an instance of the class, you would use a class method.

Can you give me an example of a class method?

Sure! Here's a simple example in Python:

class Dog:
    species = "Canis familiaris"

    @classmethod
    def get_species(cls):
        return cls.species

In this case, get_species is a class method that returns the species of the Dog class.

What about instance methods? When should I use them?

Instance methods are used when you need to access or modify the instance's attributes. For example, if you want to make a dog bark, you would use an instance method that operates on a specific dog instance.

Can you show me an instance method example?

Absolutely! Here's an example:

class Dog:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def bark(self):
        return f'{self.name} says woof!'

In this case, bark is an instance method that uses the instance's name attribute.