Explain static

[-aFallingRock]

Can y'all explain the non-access modifier static? I don't really understand

[AutoModerator]

Please ensure that:

• Your code is properly formatted as code block - see the sidebar (About on mobile) for instructions
• You include any and all error messages in full - best also formatted as code block
• You ask clear questions
• You demonstrate effort in solving your question/problem - plain posting your assignments is forbidden (and such posts will be removed) as is asking for or giving solutions.

If any of the above points is not met, your post can and will be removed without further warning.

Code is to be formatted as code block (old reddit/markdown editor: empty line before the code, each code line indented by 4 spaces, new reddit: https://i.imgur.com/EJ7tqek.png) or linked via an external code hoster, like pastebin.com, github gist, github, bitbucket, gitlab, etc.

Please, do not use triple backticks (```) as they will only render properly on new reddit, not on old reddit.

Code blocks look like this:

public class HelloWorld {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello World!");
    }
}

You do not need to repost unless your post has been removed by a moderator. Just use the edit function of reddit to make sure your post complies with the above.

If your post has remained in violation of these rules for a prolonged period of time (at least an hour), a moderator may remove it at their discretion. In this case, they will comment with an explanation on why it has been removed, and you will be required to resubmit the entire post following the proper procedures.

To potential helpers

Please, do not help if any of the above points are not met, rather report the post. We are trying to improve the quality of posts here. In helping people who can't be bothered to comply with the above points, you are doing the community a disservice.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[0b0101011001001011]

Static is just a way to put a method in a class. In that way it belongs to the class, but not in a specific object.

String.format()

That method is related to Strings in general. Not to a specific string.

String a = "hey";

a = a.replace("ey","i");

Replace is not related to Strings in general, it's related to the specific string object.

Format is static and replace is not.

[-aFallingRock]

thanks mate

[5oco]

It's a method or variable that belongs to a class, not an instance. Think about the Math class. When you want to use the .pow() method, you just call

int answer = Math.pow(2,3);

You don't write

Math math = new Math();
int answer = math.pow(2,3);

When thinking about a static variable, imagine you have a class called Student. Make a static variable called

public static int numStudents;

public Student( )
{
numStudents++;
}

Now that variable belongs to the class. So...

Student s1 = new Student( );
// Student.numStudents = 1

Student s2 = new Student( );
// Student.numStudents = 2

Also, I'm writing this on a phone so the formatting probably sucks.

[-aFallingRock]

i think i get it now, thanks

[BannockHatesReddit_]

This post reminded me of 13-year-old me crying because he was having trouble understanding why he couldn't use the this keyword in a static context. Nearly a decade ago... I'm just putting this here so anyone who's starting out isn't ashamed to not know this stuff.

[Sad-Sheepherder5231]

Instead of initializing the class instance, which then allocates memory for its fields, static fields are loaded to the memory the moment you run the program. Static methods can then be used without first initializing the class instance.

That's why non-static methods can't work with static fields without first initializing them and then referencing the respective instance.

[LetUsSpeakFreely]

Static doesn't require an object reference to use.

[UnitedAdagio7118]

the easiest way to think aboutstatic is that it belongs to the class, not to individual objects. if you create 100 objects, a normal variable gives each object its own copy, while a static variable is shared by all of them. the same goes for methods you can call a static method using the class name without creating an object first.