(Lifted from Didip Kerabat’s blog HERE)
Unlike Java, where static method and class method are the same thing, in Python there is subtle difference:
Say function a() is defined in Parent Class, while Sub Class extends Parent Class
If function a() has @staticmethod decorator, Sub.a() still refers to definition inside Parent Class. Whereas,
If function a() has @classmethod decorator, Sub.a() will points definition inside Sub Class.
Let’s talk about some definitions here:
@staticmethod function is nothing more than a function defined inside a class. It is callable without instantiating the class first. It’s definition is immutable via inheritance.
@classmethod function also callable without instantiating the class, but its definition follows Sub class, not Parent class, via inheritance. That’s because the first argument for @classmethod function must always be cls (class).
Reference:
http://rapd.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/python-staticmethod-vs-classmethod/
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