static method

In Python, a static method is a method that belongs to a class but doesn’t operate on an instance or the class itself.

You define a static method using the @staticmethod decorator. Static methods don’t receive an implicit self or cls argument. This means they can’t access or modify instance attributes or class attributes. The Python runtime enforces this behavior by not passing the instance or class object as an argument.

You often use static methods for utility functions that logically belong to a class but don’t require access to any instance or class-level data. They help organize code by keeping related functionality within a class.

Example

Here’s an example of using static methods:

Python calculations.py 
class Calculator:
    @staticmethod
    def add(a, b):
        """Returns the sum of two numbers."""
        return a + b

    @staticmethod
    def subtract(a, b):
        """Returns the difference between two numbers."""
        return a - b


# Calling a static method on the class
print(Calculator.add(5, 7))  # Output: 12

# Calling a static method on an instance
calculator = Calculator()
print(calculator.subtract(5, 7))  # Output: -2

In this example, .add() and .subtract() are static methods that perform addition and subtraction, respectively. You can call them directly on the Calculator class or on an instance of the class without affecting instance or class state.

Python classmethods, staticmethods, and instance methods

Tutorial

Python's Instance, Class, and Static Methods Demystified

This tutorial helps demystify what's behind class, static, and instance methods in Python.

intermediate python

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

By Leodanis Pozo Ramos • Updated March 6, 2025 • Reviewed by Martin Breuss
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