@classmethod vs @staticmethod

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Accepted Answer

@classmethod is useful for alternative constructors: @classmethod def from_string(cls, s): return cls(parse(s)). The cls argument lets it create instances of the correct subclass. @staticmethod is just a regular function that lives in the class namespace for organizational purposes - it does not interact with the class or instance at all. Use @classmethod when you need the class; use @staticmethod when the function logically belongs to the class but does not need access to class or instance state.