Class methods and static methods are two different types of methods in Python. They are used for different purposes and have different properties. In this article, we will discuss the differences between class methods and static methods in Python and when to use each one.

Class Method

A class method is a method that is bound to the class and not to an instance of the class. This means that a class method can be called on the class itself rather than on an instance of the class. Class methods are defined using the @classmethod decorator and the first argument of a class method is always the class itself, not an instance of the class.

Class methods are used to change the behavior of a class as a whole, and not on individual instances. For example, you can use a class method to change the state of the class, create a new instance of the class, or perform some other operation on the class.

Static Method

A static method is a method that is bound to the class and not to an instance of the class. However, unlike class methods, static methods do not receive any information about the class itself. This means that static methods do not have access to the class or its attributes.

Static methods are used to perform operations that do not require information about the class or its instances. For example, you can use a static method to perform a mathematical calculation or validate user input.