Static Functions in Python
Python's object-oriented structure allows programmers to create sophisticated programs, but sometimes it is simpler to work with a function without instantiating a class object. Python allows you to store functions in importable class files, but designate them as a "static" function so you can call it without creating an object.
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Functions
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A novice Python programmer tends to produce what is known as "spaghetti code." He types out all of the code for a program, but it's repetitious, unorganized, and difficult to edit or maintain. As he learns more about programming, he begins to use functions, also known as methods, to better organize the code. Each function contains the source code necessary to execute a specific set of operations. Each time you need to execute that segment of code, you can use the name of the function that you created.
Classes
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Python organizes its source code into data structures called classes. Each class can contain any number of individual functions. Classes can either be used as a set of plans for the Python interpreter to construct independently functioning objects, or as a container for methods that you use frequently. By putting the methods in a separate source code file in its own class, you can import that code into your project with a single line.
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Class Versus Static
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The functions inside of a class can either be static functions or class functions. To use a class function, you must instantiate an object of that class, then call the method through the object itself. Static functions do not require you to create an object of the class in order to call and execute them.
Making Static Function
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By default, functions inside of class files are class functions. By typing out "@staticmethod" on the line above a function's declaration, you can convert it to a static method. No other syntactical differences are available to declare a static function as opposed to declaring a class function. You can execute a static function using the syntax "classname.function()" where "classname" is the name of the class in which the the function resides, and "function" is the name of the method.
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