What is the difference between these functions?

Question

I am trying to understand static methods for classes in Python.

class B:
def hey():
print("hey")

class B:
@classmethod
def hey(cls):
print("hey")

Both function produce the same result. What is the difference?

Answer 1

Based on my idiotic understandings:

The first one can only invoked through the Instance of that Class.

The second one can be invoked through the Class itself and the Instance of that Class. What makes 'classmethods' unique in my opinion is that the method can access the class because of the first parameter (cls).

Here's a bad example of mine:
https://code.sololearn.com/clh3339oqTLn/?ref=app

If you want to have a plain static function (no 'self' or 'cls'), use '@staticmethod'

Answer 2

You will understand the difference when you make those methods use instance variables.

Answer 3

The first one can be invoked through the Class itself.

https://code.sololearn.com/c0LF9COaDSHC/?ref=app

Answer 4

There are two types of methods .Instance methods(what is in example 1) which take self as the first argument.They are associated with objects and use instance variables.
But static methods dont need self to be their first argument as they are associated to class not to the objects and use no instance variables.

Answer 5

Thank you for explaining. But know that. What I want to learn is why do static and class methods behaves in the same way?

Answer 6

You mean it is a programming experience. But I don't think so. As the man who learns from experience , I can say that anybody who understood a context well could tell the knowledge to others.