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Q&A What are the disadvantages of using static methods in Java?

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...

posted 3y ago by Hyperlynx‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Hyperlynx‭

Answer
#2: Post edited by user avatar Hyperlynx‭ · 2021-09-20T06:32:22Z (about 3 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 user avatar Hyperlynx‭ · 2021-09-19T23:39:09Z (about 3 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.