Python is not a language built for Object Oriented Programming unlike Java or C++.
When calling a static method in Python, one simply writes a method with regular arguments inside it.
class Animal():
def staticMethod():
print "This is a static method"
However, an object method, which requires you to make a variable, which is an Animal, in this case, needs the self argument
class Animal():
def objectMethod(self):
print "This is an object method which needs an instance of a class"
The self method is also used to refer to a variable field within the class.
class Animal():
#animalName made in constructor
def Animal(self):
self.animalName = "";
def getAnimalName(self):
return self.animalName
In this case, self is referring to the animalName variable of the entire class. REMEMBER: If you have a variable within a method, self will not work. That variable is simply existent only while that method is running. For defining fields (the variables of the entire class), you have to define them OUTSIDE the class methods.
If you don't understand a single word of what I am saying, then Google "Object Oriented Programming." Once you understand this, you won't even need to ask that question :).
