In object-oriented programming, a distinction exists between static methods and instance methods. A static method pertains to the class itself rather than any specific instance. It can be invoked using the class name and lacks access to instance-specific data. Conversely, an instance method is tied to a particular object instance of a class and operates on the data specific to that instance. It is invoked on an object using dot notation. Grasping this differentiation is essential as it influences the manner of method invocation, their scope, and the kind of data they can manipulate.