Static keyword in Java is a non-access modifier that helps to modify the meaning of a variable, method, or class.
Java contains various types of keywords or modifiers. Some of them include the following.
- Final
- Static
- Abstract
- Interface
- We use the ‘static’ keyword to make memory location constant.
- However, there is the possibility to change the value held in the memory.
- Even without creating an object, it is possible to access static members of a class.
- Static members are called class members.
Static keywords are known either as a keyword or modifier.
Some Key Points of Static Keyword in Java:
- The Static keyword is only used for the Data Members and Member functions.
- All Static Members are first to execute.
- However, do not use static keywords along with Classes and Constructors
- Consequently, there are no STATIC classes in Java
- If there is a body for the static keyword, it is known as Static Block.
STATIC BLOCK – has the highest PRECEDENCE among all the declarations of the class. It means it executes first, even before the static keyword.
- NON-STATIC members CANNOT be referenced from a STATIC context
- All STATIC members CAN be referenced from NON-STATIC context
- All NON-STATIC members participate in every instance of the class
- In order to ACCESS NON-STATIC members from a STATIC CONTEXT – we require an OBJECT
- Superclass ‘static’ method CAN be Overridden as ‘static’ ONLY
- It is not possible to declare Abstract methods as ‘static’
- It is possible to access all static members outside the class using its class name.
- You can import packages statically