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I think I can access the static method without caring of class, isn't it? No. A static method is still a class method, and you still care about the class. The difference is that static methods...
Answer
#2: Post edited
by
Hyperlynx
·
2021-09-20T06:32:22Z (over 2 years ago)
- > I think I can access the static method without caring of class, isn't it?
- No. A static method is still a class method, and you still care about the class. The difference is that static methods aren't used with an *instance* of a class (an object).
- > static method can helps to decrease amount of source code.
I don't see how...- > So Is it better to use static method? Or is there any limit of it?
- Opinions differ. The main thing is that you can't access object members in a static method, only static members.
- For example, you might have a `Car` class, with a `fuel` member and a `drive()` method that makes `fuel` go down. You might also have a `private static int numCars` member, and a static `printNumCars()` method.
- When accessing your static method, you still care about the class. It's still going to be `Car.numCars()`. `numCars()` has no way to access the `fuel` member, and that makes sense (*which* car's fuel would we be talking about?). On the other hand, "how many cars are there" isn't a property of any one specific car at all, it's a property of cars in general, as a whole category.
- That's what static members are for - things that are relevant to the entire class, rather than any individual object.
- > I think I can access the static method without caring of class, isn't it?
- No. A static method is still a class method, and you still care about the class. The difference is that static methods aren't used with an *instance* of a class (an object).
- > static method can helps to decrease amount of source code.
- True. As you pointed out in comment (putting it here too for better visibility): `import static com.classes.Car.numCars();` means that you can simply invoke it as `numCars();`
- > So Is it better to use static method? Or is there any limit of it?
- Opinions differ. The main thing is that you can't access object members in a static method, only static members.
- For example, you might have a `Car` class, with a `fuel` member and a `drive()` method that makes `fuel` go down. You might also have a `private static int numCars` member, and a static `printNumCars()` method.
- When accessing your static method, you still care about the class. It's still going to be `Car.numCars()`. `numCars()` has no way to access the `fuel` member, and that makes sense (*which* car's fuel would we be talking about?). On the other hand, "how many cars are there" isn't a property of any one specific car at all, it's a property of cars in general, as a whole category.
- That's what static members are for - things that are relevant to the entire class, rather than any individual object.
#1: Initial revision
by
Hyperlynx
·
2021-09-19T23:39:09Z (over 2 years ago)
> I think I can access the static method without caring of class, isn't it? No. A static method is still a class method, and you still care about the class. The difference is that static methods aren't used with an *instance* of a class (an object). > static method can helps to decrease amount of source code. I don't see how... > So Is it better to use static method? Or is there any limit of it? Opinions differ. The main thing is that you can't access object members in a static method, only static members. For example, you might have a `Car` class, with a `fuel` member and a `drive()` method that makes `fuel` go down. You might also have a `private static int numCars` member, and a static `printNumCars()` method. When accessing your static method, you still care about the class. It's still going to be `Car.numCars()`. `numCars()` has no way to access the `fuel` member, and that makes sense (*which* car's fuel would we be talking about?). On the other hand, "how many cars are there" isn't a property of any one specific car at all, it's a property of cars in general, as a whole category. That's what static members are for - things that are relevant to the entire class, rather than any individual object.