Static keyword in java

Answer 1

A Static method in Java is one that belongs to a class rather than an object of a class. Normal methods of a class can be invoked only by using an object of the class but a Static method can be invoked Directly.

Example:

public class A {

.....

public static int getAge(){

....

}

}

public class B {

.....

int age = A.getAge();

}

In class B when we wanted the age value we directly called the method using the instance of the class instead of instantiating an object of the class.

Tip:

A static method can access only static variables. The reason is obvious. Something that is common to a class cannot refer to things that are specific to an object...

Answer 2

Static is a java keyword that signifies the fact that the variable or method that is declared static belongs to the class and not any instance of the class (Object)

Static keyword when used with a method, specifies that this method belongs to the class and not a particular instance of the class (a.k.a object of the class)

Ex:

public class StaticTest {

public static String getAuthorName() {

return "Anand";

}

}

Here getAuthorName is the static method and it can be accessed without instantiating an object of the class StaticTest. You can access this method as:

String authorName = StaticTest.getAuthorName();

The static modifier tells the system that this particular variable belongs to the class and does not belong to any specific instance of the same. The class will contain only one instance of the static variable irrespective of how many objects of the class you create.

Answer 3

The static keyword can be used with both methods and variables in java.

Static Methods

Static keyword when used with a method, specifies that this method belongs to the class and not a particular instance of the class (a.k.a object of the class)

Ex:

public class StaticTest {

public static String getAuthorName() {

return "Anand";

}

}

Here getAuthorName is the static method and it can be accessed without instantiating an object of the class StaticTest. You can access this method as:

String authorName = StaticTest.getAuthorName();

Static Variables

The static modifier tells the system that this particular variable belongs to the class and does not belong to any specific instance of the same. The class will contain only one instance of the static variable irrespective of how many objects of the class you create.

Answer 4

Static Inner Classes

Actually static inner classes aren't inner classes at all, by the standard definition of an inner class. While an inner class enjoys that special relationship with the outer class (or rather the instances of the two classes share a relationship), a static MyStaticExInnerClass class does not. It is simply a non-inner (also called "top-level") class scoped within another. So with static classes it's really more about name-space resolution than about an implicit relationship between the two classes.

A static MyStaticExInnerClass class is simply a class that's a static member of the enclosing class:

class MyExOuter {

static class StaticInner { }

}

The class itself isn't really "static"; there's no such thing as a static class. The static modifier in this case says that the MyStaticExInnerClass class is a static member of the outer class. That means it can be accessed, as with other static members, without having an instance of the outer class.

Answer 5

static member means the method's behaviour does not depend on the state of an object.