Java Static Variables

static makes everything shared.

essentially the metadata of your class.

Static Variables

its a variable or method shared across all classes. Changing this static variable will change the static variable in all other objects

Static Methods

will run from the variables in the class itself instead of the current object

Example

public class Fraction{
	private int num;
	private int den;
    private final int DEFAULT_DENOMINATOR = 1;
	private static int numberOfFractions = 0; // our static variable
 
	public Fraction() {
	     numberOfFractions++;
	}
 
    public static int getNumberOfFractions() { // static methods. will not get from this object. will get it from the entire class
        return numberOfFractions;
    }
}

Requirements:

• Static variables used can only be use in static methods.
• returning static variables must not have a this. before it
• static variables should be private is possible