Define Static Method using @staticmethod Decorator in Python

The @staticmethod is a built-in decorator that defines a static method in the class in Python. A static method doesn't receive any reference argument whether it is called by an instance of a class or by the class itself.

@staticmethod Characteristics

• Declares a static method in the class.
• It cannot have cls or self parameter.
• The static method cannot access the class attributes or the instance attributes.
• The static method can be called using ClassName.MethodName() and also using object.MethodName().
• It can return an object of the class.

The following example demonstrates how to define a static method in the class:

class Student:
    name = 'unknown' # class attribute
    
    def __init__(self):
        self.age = 20  # instance attribute

    @staticmethod
    def tostring():
        print('Student Class')

Above, the Student class declares the tostring() method as a static method using the @staticmethod decorator. Note that it cannot have self or cls parameter.

The static method can be called using the ClassName.MethodName() or object.MethodName(), as shown below.

#calling static method    
Student.tostring()   #'Student Class'
Student().tostring() #'Student Class'

std = Student()
std.tostring()     #'Student Class'

The static method cannot access the class attributes or instance attributes. It will raise an error if try to do so.

class Student:
    name = 'unknown' # class attribute
    
    def __init__(self):
        self.age = 20  # instance attribute

    @staticmethod
    def tostring():
        print('name=',name,'age=',self.age)


Student.tostring()   #error

@classmethod vs @staticmethod

The following table lists the difference between the class method and the static method: