Example of static method

In this section, you will learn how to define a static method.

This Java programming example will teach you the way to define a static methods. In java we have two types of methods, instance methods and static methods. Static methods can't use any instance variables. The this keyword can't be used in a static methods. You can find it difficult to understand when to use a static method and when not to use. If you have a better understanding of the instance methods and static methods then you can know where to use instance method and static method.

A static method can be accessed without creating an instance of the class. If you try to use a non-static method and variable defined in this class then the compiler will say that non-static variable or method cannot be referenced from a static context. Static method can call only other static methods and static variables defined in the class.

The concept of static method will get more clear after this program. First of all create a class HowToAccessStaticMethod. Now define two variables in it, one is instance variable and other is class variable. Make one static method named staticMethod() and second named as nonStaticMethod(). Now try to call both the method without constructing a object of the class. You will find that only static method can be called this way.

The code of the program is given below:


public class HowToAccessStaticMethod{

  int i;

  static int j;

  public static void staticMethod(){

  System.out.println("you can access a static method this way");

  }

  public void nonStaticMethod(){

  i=100;

  j=1000;

  System.out.println("Don't try to access a non static method");

  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {

  //i=100;
  
     

       j=1000;

  //nonStaticMethod();

  staticMethod();

  }

}

Output of the program is given below:

C:\java>java HowToAccessStaticMethod
you can access a static method this way

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Example of static method

Example of static method

Example of static method

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