What is the difference between a static method and a non-static method in java?

What is the difference between a static method and a non-static method in java?

In Java, methods in classes can be categorized into two main types: static methods and non-static (or instance) methods. Here are the key differences between these two types of methods:

  1. Static Method (Class Method):

    • A static method belongs to the class itself rather than to any specific instance (object) of the class.
    • You can call a static method on the class itself, without needing to create an instance of the class.
    • Static methods are associated with the class's definition and can be called using the class name (e.g., ClassName.staticMethod()).
    • Static methods cannot access or modify instance-specific (non-static) data or methods directly. They operate only on static members or other static methods.
    • Common use cases for static methods include utility methods, factory methods, and methods that perform operations not tied to a specific instance.

    Example:

    public class MathUtils { public static int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; } }

  2. Non-Static Method (Instance Method):

    • A non-static method is associated with instances (objects) of a class.
    • You must create an instance of the class to call a non-static method on that instance.
    • Non-static methods can access and modify instance-specific data (fields) and call other non-static methods of the same class.
    • They are invoked on an object and can access instance-specific state, which allows them to perform operations specific to an instance.
    • Common use cases for non-static methods include encapsulating behavior that operates on instance data, getter and setter methods, and methods that define the behavior of an object.

    Example:

    public class Person { private String name; public Person(String name) { this.name = name; } public String getName() { return name; } public void setName(String name) { this.name = name; } }

In summary, static methods are associated with the class itself and can be called without creating an instance of the class, while non-static methods are associated with instances of the class and operate on instance-specific data. The choice between static and non-static methods depends on the specific behavior you want to encapsulate and whether it is tied to the class as a whole or to individual instances of the class.

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