What is the difference between a class method and a static method?

Question

Accepted Answer

**@classmethod** receives the **class** as the first argument (`cls`). **@staticmethod** does not receive anything automatically.

**Instance method (regular):**
```python
class User:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

def greet(self):  # self = instance
        return f"Hello, {self.name}"
```

**@classmethod:**
```python
class User:
    users = []  # Class attribute

def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
        User.users.append(self)

@classmethod
    def count(cls):  # cls = class
        return len(cls.users)

@classmethod
    def from_string(cls, user_str):  # Alternative constructor
        name = user_str.split(",")[0]
        return cls(name)

User.from_string("Alice,25")
print(User.count())  # 1
```

**@staticmethod:**
```python
class Math:
    @staticmethod
    def add(a, b):  # No self/cls
        return a + b

print(Math.add(2, 3))  # 5
```

Python: What is the difference between a class method and a static method?