# Python Class' Instance method, Class method, and Static Methods Demystified

Let’s begin by writing a (Python 3, no need for inheriting "object", see?) class that contains simple examples for all three method types:

```python
class MyClass:
    def method(self):
        return 'instance method called', self

    @classmethod
    def classmethod(cls):
        return 'class method called', cls

    @staticmethod
    def staticmethod():
        return 'static method called'
```

> **NOTE:** For Python 2 users: The `@staticmethod` and `@classmethod` decorators are available as of Python 2.4 and this example will work as is. Instead of using a plain `class MyClass:` declaration you might choose to declare a new-style class inheriting from `object` with the `class MyClass(object)`

### Instance Methods -- accesses to object state and class state

The first method on `MyClass`, called `method`, is a regular _instance method_. That’s the basic, no-frills method type you’ll use most of the time. You can see **the method takes one parameter, `self`, which points to an instance of `MyClass` when the method is called** (but of course instance methods can accept more than just one parameter).

Through the `self` parameter, instance methods can freely access attributes and other methods on the same object. This gives them a lot of power when it comes to modifying an object’s state.

Not only can they **modify object state**, instance methods can also access the class itself through the `self.__class__` attribute. This means instance methods **can also modify class state**.

### Class Methods -- only have access to class state

Let’s compare that to the second method, `MyClass.classmethod`. I marked this method with a [`@classmethod`](https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#classmethod) decorator to flag it as a _class method_.

_Instead of accepting a `self` parameter, class methods take a `cls`parameter that points to the class—and not the object instance—when the method is called._

Because the class method only has access to this `cls` argument, it **can’t modify object instance state**. That would require access to `self`. However, class methods **can still modify class state** that applies across all instances of the class.

### Static Methods -- no accesses to either state

The third method, `MyClass.staticmethod` was marked with a [`@staticmethod`](https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#staticmethod) decorator to flag it as a _static method_.

_This type of method takes neither a `self` nor a `cls` parameter_ (but of course it’s free to accept an arbitrary number of other parameters).

Therefore a static method **can neither modify object state nor class state.** Static methods are restricted in what data they can access - and they’re primarily a way to namespace your methods.

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