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Python Instance, Static & Class Method Differences


In this post, we will try to understand Python Instance, Static & Class Method Differences.

The below video explains the differences and the corresponding notes are given below as well.     Before proceeding ahead , note the below pointers -

  • "self" Parameter -
    • points to an instance of a class
    • Can be used to modify State of an object
 

  • "cls" Parameter -
    • class of "self"
    • points to the class itself - not the object instance (of the class)
    • Can modify class state (that applies across all instances of the class)
    • Can not modify object instance state (possible only through "self")
  Note Instance Methods are also called as Regular methods.  


class A:

  def instance\_method(self, arg1):
    return 'This is instance method', self

  @staticmethod
  def static\_method(arg1):
    return 'This is static method'

  @classmethod
  def class\_method(cls, arg1):
    return 'This is class method', cls

Difference 1:

  • Instance Method
These are plain vanilla functions within a Class with no decorator mark. Instance method receives the instance of the class as the first argument.  

  • Static Method
These are also like regular functions defined inside a class and identified by a decorator "@staticmethod" Static method is kind of a "non-related" member in it's own class.  

  • Class Method
A Class method is a similar to an instance method But  identified by a decorator "@classmethod" A class method receives the class as an argument  

Difference 2:

  • Instance Method
An instance method have access to the instance through the "self" parameter. In fact "self" must be the first parameter for an Instance method.  

  • Static Method
Static methods don’t have access to the "cls" or "self" parameters. This method Only just gets whatever user-specific argument is passed on by the user.  

  • Class Method
Class methods can access the class itself via "cls" parameter But they can’t access the instance i.e. "self" parameter.  

Difference 3:

  • Instance Method
Can modify both Class & Object Instance State Using the "self"  parameter, it modify object state. Using the self.__class__ attribute, it can change the class state as well.  

  • Static Method
Can not modify either of the Class or the Object Instance State  

  • Class Method
Can modify only the Class State  

Difference 4:

  • Instance Method
These methods can be used when we need to access and modify object specific attributes separately for each objects.  

  • Static Method
These methods can be used when we do not want subclasses of a class to modify or override a specific implementation of a method.  

  • Class Method
Unlike Java,C++ , Python doesn't provide  constructor overloading. And hence as an alternative to that , you could use Class methods Can be used to create a shared global access to all the instances created from that class (e.g. A single record modified by multiple users) Can be used to define Singleton   Hope this helps.  

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