Static methods in Python

Question

Is it possible to have static methods in Python so I can call them without initializing a class, like:

ClassName.StaticMethod ( )

Answer 1

Yes this can be acheived by using staticmethod decorator

class MyClass(object):

   @staticmethod def the_static_method(x):

      print x MyClass.the_static_method(2) 

      # outputs 2

Note:-  Code might use the old method of defining a static method, using staticmethod as a function rather than a decorator. 

class MyClass(object):

   def the_static_method(x):

      print x the_static_method = staticmethod(the_static_method) 

      MyClass.the_static_method(2) 

      # outputs 2

This is entirely identical to the first example (using @staticmethod), just not using the nice decorator syntax.

Answer 2

Static methods are used when we need to process data associated with classes instead of instances. A static method has no self argument and it is nested in a class and is designed to work on class attributes instead of instance attributes.Static methods never receive an automatic self argument, whether called through a class or an instance. They usually keep track of information that spans all instances, rather than providing behavior for instances.