Static vs. Instance Methods in Java: What's the Difference?

Static vs. Instance Methods: A Simplified Explanation

In Java, methods can be categorized into two main types: static methods and instance methods. While the concept may seem confusing at first, understanding their differences will significantly enhance your programming skills.

Static Methods

Static methods, also known as class methods, are declared with the "static" keyword. They belong to the class itself, rather than individual instances of the class. Static methods do not require an object instance to be invoked. This means that they can be called directly using the class name.

For example:

public static int sum(int a, int b) {
  return a + b;
}

This static method can be called as follows:

int result = MyClass.sum(10, 20);

Static methods are useful for performing operations that are not specific to individual instances of a class, such as mathematical calculations or utility functions.

Instance Methods

Instance methods, on the other hand, are not declared with the "static" keyword and require an object instance to be invoked. They operate on the instance's data members. To call an instance method, you must first create an object.

For example:

public class MyClass {
  private int value;

  public void setValue(int value) {
    this.value = value;
  }
}

This instance method can be called as follows, after creating an instance of the MyClass class:

MyClass myObject = new MyClass();
myObject.setValue(10);

Instance methods are used for modifying an object's state or performing operations that involve the object's data.

The above is the detailed content of Static vs. Instance Methods in Java: What's the Difference?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!