Python static method vs. Java static method

Question

In Java, we only store one copy of the static method into memory, and we can call it over and over again. This is for performance and space saving.

Previously, someone had claimed in work that static function in Python does not work the same way as in Java, is this correct?

Someone also claimed that every time we are calling the Python static method, and Python Interpreter still need to spend the time to instantiate an object first. Is this correct?

class A(object): @staticmethod def static_1(): print 'i am static'

@staticmethod is a decorator, implying the method is wrapped. The extra function call (if there is one) might have some overhead, although perhaps not significant (depends on your definition of significant). — Paul Rooney
– Paul Rooney, Commented Apr 24, 2018 at 4:04

Bean · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-24 07:43:08Z

4

The Python method for java static method is @classmethod.

edited Sep 24, 2021 at 7:43

Bean

699 bronze badges

answered Apr 24, 2018 at 3:22

Hayden

4594 silver badges13 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

user1187968 Over a year ago

Someone claimed to me that static method in Python is slow, and I was looking for some answer at the interpreter level.

user2357112 · Accepted Answer · 2018-04-24 03:33:33Z

Accessing a Python static method does not involve creating a new object. Python just returns the original function object.

(Accessing a non-static method does involve creating a new method object, but this is cheap. In particular, it only bundles together a reference to the function and a reference to self; it does not involve copying the function.)

Also, even "copying the function" would be cheap. A function is just a struct with a few tuples and a code object, so it's basically copying (and increfing, for CPython) a handful of pointers to immutable objects. Many people new to Python think it must involve recompiling the source or something…

Vlad · Accepted Answer · 2018-04-24 03:29:45Z

There is a difference between Python the language and specific Python implementation.

Also, almost all the languages store only one copy of method each method in memory. This applies to all static, class and regular method. The savings you mentioned come from not needing to pass the pointer to 'self' in Python or 'this' in Java. One less parameter to pass could add to huge savings for the methods that are called from within innermost long running loops.

As for storing methods themselves. Implementations like PyPi constantly perform JIT to compile methods into machine code. They keep recompiling based on updated statistics on how method performs. I believe similar behaviour occurs in Java.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Python static method vs. Java static method

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Related