Java Static Variables and Methods: Basic Usage of the static Keyword

This article focuses on the `static` keyword in Java, with the core idea being that members (variables and methods) belong to the class rather than individual objects, enabling data sharing. ### Static Variables (Class Variables) These belong to the class and are shared by all instances. They are initialized when the class is loaded and have the same lifecycle as the class. They can be accessed directly via the class name (recommended). For example, the `Student` class might use `static int totalStudents` to count the total number of students. ### Static Methods (Class Methods) These can be called without instantiating an object. They can only access static members, have no `this` or `super` references, and are recommended to be called via the class name. For instance, the static method `formatDate` in the utility class `DateUtils` directly formats dates. ### Core Differences - Static members belong to the class (shared), while instance members belong to objects (independent). - Static members are accessed via the class name, instance members via objects. - Static methods only access static members, while instance methods can access both. ### Static Code Blocks These execute once when the class is loaded and are used to initialize static variables. ### Common Issues - Static methods have no `this` reference. - If static and instance variables have the same name, the instance variable takes precedence. - A subclass's static method will hide the parent class's static method. `static` is used for data sharing, utility methods, and class initialization. It is essential to distinguish between static and instance members.