Why should the getInstance() method in Factory pattern be static?

Question

In most of the factory pattern implementations, the getInstance method is usually declared as static. The main advantage of factory pattern is to hide the implementation details, but why does getInstance() method needs to be static? Is instantiating a new Factory Object a bad practice?

XYZFactory factory = new XYZFactory(); 
XYZObj obj = factory.getInstance(TYPE);

Vs

XYZObj obj = XYZFactory.getInstance(TYPE);

Answer 1

Daves answer is absolutely correct if the factory method is in the class itself. For a factory method in some other class, I think it is a matter of style. I would go back to the basic question of when is something static: does this method provide behavior to the class as a whole, or to specific instances of the class? I argue factory methods typically offer class-level behavior.