This article helps you understand how to use static  keyword in Java with code example.

In Java, the static keyword can be applied for inner classes, methods and variables.

- Static methods and variables are shared among all instances of a class. They can be invoked and accessed without creating new instances of the class. The following example shows a class contains a static variable, a static method and a regular method:

public class Car {
    static String color;
    
    static void beep() {
        //beep beep!
    }
    
    void brake() {
        // stop
    }
}

The static variable color and static method beep() can be accessed like this:

Car.color = "Red";
Car.beep();

whereas the regular method brake() must be called on an instance of Car class:

Car myCar = new Car();
myCar.brake();

- A regular class cannot be static, only inner class can be static. The following example shows an example of a static inner class:

public class Car {
    static class Engine {
    }
}

The inner class Engine can be instantiated without creating an instance of the enclosing class Car, for example:

Car.Engine carEngine = new Car.Engine();

 

See all keywords in Java.

 

Related Topics:

• What is static method in java?
• Differences between static and non-static stuffs in Java

 

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• Understand Interfaces in Java
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• Understand encapsulation in Java