Static Method and Static Variable: In Java, static is keyword that can be applied to variables and methods but not to classes. static is used as an access modifier.
In Java, to call an instance variable or method, an object is required. But a static variable and method can be called without the help of an object. This is the basic difference between static and non-static in Java.
Observe the following code on Static Method and Static Variable.
public class Demo
{
int marks = 50; // non-static variable
static double average = 40.6; // static variable
public void display() // non-static method
{
System.out.println("Hello 1");
}
public static void show() // static method
{
System.out.println("Hello 2");
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
// static members - no object is required
System.out.println(average);
show();
// non-static members - object is required
Demo d1 = new Demo(); // create the object
System.out.println(d1.marks);
d1.display();
}
}
Observe, average and show() are static members of the class Demo and are called without the need of an object. marks and display() are non-static members and are called with object d1.
Note: More indepth explanation is available at Java static Variable Method.
In and Outs on static Usage. Read when you are comfortable with the above example
