The classmethod() is an inbuilt function in Python, which returns a class method for a given function.;
Syntax: classmethod(function)
Parameter :This function accepts the function name as a parameter.
Return Type:This function returns the converted class method.
Python classmethod()
The classmethod() methods are bound to a class rather than an object. Class methods can be called by both class and object. These methods can be called with a class or with an object.
Class Method vs Static Method
The basic difference between the class method vs Static method in Python and when to use the class method and static method in Python.
- A class method takes cls as the first parameter while a static method needs no specific parameters.
- A class method can access or modify the class state while a static method can’t access or modify it.
- In general, static methods know nothing about the class state. They are utility-type methods that take some parameters and work upon those parameters. On the other hand class methods must have class as a parameter.
- We use @classmethod decorator in Python to create a class method and we use @staticmethod decorator to create a static method in Python.
Example of classmethod in Python
Create a simple classmethod
In this example, we are going to see how to create classmethod, for this we created a class with Lazyroar name with member variable course and created a function purchase which prints the object. Now we passed the method Lazyroar.purchase into classmethod which converts the methods to a class method and then we call the class function purchase without creating a function object.
Python3
class Lazyroar: course = 'DSA' def purchase(obj): print("Purchase course : ", obj.course)Lazyroar.purchase = classmethod(Lazyroar.purchase)Lazyroar.purchase() |
Output:
Purchase course : DSA
Create class method using classmethod()
Created print_name classmethod before creating this line print_name() It can be called only with an object not with the class now this method can be called as classmethod print_name() method is called a class method.
Python3
class Student: # create a variable name = "GeeksforLazyroar" # create a function def print_name(obj): print("The name is : ", obj.name)# create print_name classmethod# before creating this line print_name()# It can be called only with object not with classStudent.print_name = classmethod(Student.print_name)# now this method can be called as classmethod# print_name() method is called a class methodStudent.print_name() |
Output:
The name is : GeeksforLazyroar
Factory method using a Class method
Uses of classmethod() function are used in factory design patterns where we want to call many functions with the class name rather than an object.
Python3
# Python program to demonstrate# use of a class method and static method.from datetime import dateclass Person: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age # a class method to create a # Person object by birth year. @classmethod def fromBirthYear(cls, name, year): return cls(name, date.today().year - year) def display(self): print("Name : ", self.name, "Age : ", self.age)person = Person('mayank', 21)person.display() |
Output:
Name : mayank Age : 21
Python @classmethod Decorator
The @classmethod decorator is a built-in function decorator which is an expression that gets evaluated after your function is defined. The result of that evaluation shadows your function definition. A class method receives the class as the implicit first argument, just like an instance method receives the instance.
Syntax of classmethod Decorator
class C(object):
@classmethod
def fun(cls, arg1, arg2, …):
….
Where,
- fun: the function that needs to be converted into a class method
- returns: a class method for function.
Note:
- A class method is a method that is bound to the class and not the object of the class.
- They have the access to the state of the class as it takes a class parameter that points to the class and not the object instance.
- It can modify a class state that would apply across all the instances of the class. For example, it can modify a class variable that would be applicable to all instances.
Example
In the below example, we use a staticmethod() and classmethod() to check if a person is an adult or not.
Python3
# Python program to demonstrate# use of a class method and static method.from datetime import dateclass Person: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age # a class method to create a # Person object by birth year. @classmethod def fromBirthYear(cls, name, year): return cls(name, date.today().year - year) # a static method to check if a # Person is adult or not. @staticmethod def isAdult(age): return age > 18person1 = Person('mayank', 21)person2 = Person.fromBirthYear('mayank', 1996)print(person1.age)print(person2.age)# print the resultprint(Person.isAdult(22)) |
Output:
21 25 True
