What is the difference between using methods declared as static and class in Python?

In Python, methods decorated with @staticmethod and @classmethod differ in how they access class and instance data:

• @staticmethod — a method that does not automatically receive a reference to the instance (self) or class (cls). It behaves like a regular function but is contained within the class for logical grouping. It cannot modify the state of the class or instance.

• @classmethod — a method that receives the class (cls) as the first argument, not the instance. It can work with class attributes, create alternative constructors, and modify class state.

Example:

class MyClass:
    count = 0

    @staticmethod
    def greet():
        print("Hello!")

    @classmethod
    def increment_count(cls):
        cls.count += 1

MyClass.greet()          # Prints: Hello!
MyClass.increment_count()
print(MyClass.count)     # Prints: 1

Thus, staticmethod is just a function inside a class, while classmethod is a method that works with the class itself.