Home›Community›What is the difference between @staticmethod, @classmethod,…
What is the difference between @staticmethod, @classmethod, and instance methods in Python?
Akshita •
Jun 29, 2026 •
18 views
I'm learning object-oriented programming in Python and often see methods defined as @staticmethod, @classmethod, or regular instance methods. While they all belong to a class, I'm confused about when to use each one and how they differ.
Can someone explain the purpose of @staticmethod, @classmethod, and instance methods, including how they access class and instance data? A simple example showing when each type of method is appropriate in real-world applications would be very helpful.