Checklist p. 246 class func?

📚 Official Books iOS Apprentice
1

Hi

I am confused with the following code:

  class func nextChecklistItemID() -> Int {

        let userDefaults = NSUserDefaults.standardUserDefaults()
        let itemID = userDefaults.integerForKey("ChecklistItemID")
        userDefaults.setInteger(itemID + 1, forKey: "ChecklistItemID")
        userDefaults.synchronize()
        
        return itemID
    }

why should it be class func, instead of just func?

I am afraid I do not understand a basic concept of something…

/David

2

sorry, I should have read a little bit more before having rushed to ask.