Static Keyword in Java: A Comparison

The static keyword in Java is used to define class-level variables, methods, and blocks. It is a very important concept in Java that provides several benefits to the programmer. This article will compare the usage of static keyword in different contexts and highlight the key differences between them.

Static Variables

Static variables are also known as class variables. They are shared across all instances of a class, meaning that a change to the value of a static variable in one instance will affect all other instances as well. This makes static variables ideal for holding values that are common to all objects of a class, such as constants or counters.

Static Methods

Static methods are also known as class methods. They can be called without creating an instance of the class and can only access static variables. These methods are typically used for utility functions that don't require access to instance-specific data.

Static Blocks

Static blocks are blocks of code that are executed only once when the class is loaded into memory. They are used to initialize static variables and perform other actions that need to be done once before any instances of the class are created.

Comparison

Static variables and methods are both class-level members and can be accessed without creating an instance of the class. However, static methods can only access static variables, while instance methods can access both static and non-static variables.

Static blocks are executed only once when the class is loaded, while instance blocks are executed each time an instance of the class is created.