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Object Oriented Programming

Methods in Python

Methods are functions declared within a class. There are three types: instance, class, and static.

Instance methods have different implementation across all instances. They are called in relation to the current instance.
Class methods have the same implementation across all instances. They are called in relation to the instance passed in.
Static methods have the same implementation across all instances. They are not tied to a class instance.

Syntax

class ClassName(object):
    #instance methods always take self as the first parameter
    def instance_method(self, passed_params):
        #code to execute

    #the constructor is an instance method
    def __init__(self, passed_params):
        #assignments

    #class methods always take a class instance as the first parameter
    @classmethod
    def class_method(cls, passed_params):
        #code to execute

    @staticmethod
    def static_method(passed_params):
        #code to execute

class_instance = ClassName()
#calling instance and class methods
class_instance.instance_method()
#calling static methods
ClassName.static_method()

Notes

Like variables, leading double underscores can be used to indicate that access level of the method is meant to be private.

Example

class Dog(object):
    #class attribute
    legs = 4

    #instance methods
    def __init__(self, breed):
        self.breed = breed

    def get_breed(self):
        return self.breed

    @classmethod
    def get_legs(cls):
        return cls.legs

    @staticmethod
    def make_noise():
        return "*bark*!"

new_dog = Dog("Golden Retriever")
print ("I got a new dog. It is a {}".format(new_dog.get_breed()))
print ("It goes {}".format(Dog.make_noise()))

See Also

Constructors
Class Declaration and Structure
Functions

Classes - Python Documentation