python - should I use static methods or top-level functions

Question

I come from a Java background and I\'m new to python. I have a couple scripts that share some helper functions unique to the application related to reading and writing file

Answer 1

One other aspect of Python static methods is that when called on instances, they are polymorphic on the type of the variable they are called on, despite not having an instance of self.

For example:

class BaseClass:
    @staticmethod
    def my_method():
        return 0


class SubclassLeft:
    @staticmethod
    def my_method():
        return "left"


class SubclassRight:
    @staticmethod
    def my_method():
        return "right"


instances = [BaseClass(), SubclassLeft(), SubclassRight()]

for i in instances:
    print(i.my_method())

Running this results in

$ python example.py
0
left
right