Static method can be called without creating an object or instance. Simply create the method and call it directly. This is in a sense orthogonal to object orientated programming: we call a method without creating objects.
This runs directly against the concept of object oriented programming and might be frowned upon, but at times it can be useful to have a static method.
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Example
Static method
Normally you'd want to either have function calls, or to create an object on which you call its methods. You can however do something else: call a method in a class without creating an object.
Demonstration of static method below. Define a class with a method. Add the keyword @staticmethod above it to make it static.
class Music:
@staticmethod
def play():
print("*playing music*")
Music.play()
Static-methods inside a class
A class can contain both static and non-static methods. If you want to call non-static methods, you'll have to create an object. The code below does not work because an object is not created:
class Music:
@staticmethod
def play():
print("*playing music*")
def stop(self):
print("stop playing")
Music.play()
Music.stop()
Calling static methods
Normal class methods and static methods can be mixed (because why not?). This can get very confusing: we use both the concept of object orientation and functional programming mixed in one class.
If you create an object, we can call non-static methods. But you can also call the static method without creating the object.
class Music:
@staticmethod
def play():
print("*playing music*")
def stop(self):
print("stop playing")
Music.play()
obj = Music()
obj.stop()
Overall, static methods are an interesting concept to know, but in practice you'd rarely use them. Sometimes using static methods could be an indication of having a bad design.
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Practice Exercises
Try the exercises below
- Can a method inside a class be called without creating an object?
- Why does not everybody like static methods?
After completing these continue with the next exercise.