# Classes and methods

class Dog:
    # __init__ is the constructor, run on instantiation
    # The 'self' parameter refers to the calling instance of the class.
    # It's automatically provided to methods called on an instance of this
    # class. It can be named anything, but 'self' is the convention.
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    # Class methods (or static methods) are created by adding the staticmethod
    # decorator. The 'self' parameter is not passed to these methods.
    @staticmethod
    def unrelated_class_method():
        print('this is not an instance method')

    # __str__ returns the string representation of an object of this class
    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

d = Dog('Fido') # 'self' parameter is implicit
print(d) # prints 'Fido'
Dog.unrelated_class_method() # prints 'this is not an instance method'
d.unrelated_class_method() # also works, but does not provide implicit 'self'