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![ishakahmed](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e1ee042aa596bda53ef8da3de78019ad?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
ishakahmed
11,359 Points(5:12) Why do we have to say user.set_password(password)?
Why does kenneth type user.set_password(password) if set_password is a static method? Can't he say set_password(password). Or is he specifying 'user' because the interpreter needs to know where to look for the method?
1 Answer
![Josh Keenan](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d0419723c8add3c25619f65ab04909c9?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Josh Keenan
19,662 PointsIt is calling it on this instance of user, or the user currently setting their password. It is setting the password for this given user as the request comes in.
ishakahmed
11,359 Pointsishakahmed
11,359 PointsCouldn't he just say HASHER.hash(password). I don't see why he created a static method for it. Unless he wants to hash a password more than once in the User model.
Josh Keenan
19,662 PointsJosh Keenan
19,662 PointsBecause you are doing it on an actual user, you have defined a
set_password
method, you need to use it to set the password for this user. Hashing is just encrypting the password, it isn't setting one. This is how a user can create, and save their password, and each user needs it so we need to call it when they ask to call it, we can't just have it in the DB and just hashing random stuff, hope this helps.