Static and Non-Static methods in JAVA

In Java, the decision to use static or non-static methods depends on the context and requirements of your program. Let's explore the purpose of static and non-static methods and how to use them in Java:

Static Methods:

Purpose: Static methods belong to the class rather than an instance of the class. They can be accessed without creating an object of the class. Static methods are typically used for utility methods or operations that don't require instance-specific data.

How to use:

Declare a static method using the static keyword.

Access a static method using the class name, followed by the method name.

Static methods can only directly access other static members (variables or methods) of the class.

Static methods cannot use the this keyword since they don't have access to instance-specific data.

Example:

public class MathUtils {

    public static int add(int a, int b) {

        return a + b;

    }

}

// Calling a static method

int result = MathUtils.add(3, 5);

System.out.println(result); 

Output: 8

Non-Static Methods:

Purpose: Non-static methods are associated with instances of a class. They can access and manipulate instance-specific data and are commonly used for object-specific operations or behaviors.

How to use:

Non-static methods are declared without the static keyword.

Non-static methods can access both static and non-static members of the class directly.

To call a non-static method, you need to create an object of the class and access the method through that object.

Example:

public class Circle {

    private double radius;

    public void setRadius(double radius) {

        this.radius = radius;

    }

    public double calculateArea() {

        return Math.PI * radius * radius;

    }

}

// Using non-static methods

Circle myCircle = new Circle();

myCircle.setRadius(5.0);

double area = myCircle.calculateArea();

System.out.println(area); 

Output: 78.53981633974483

Remember that the choice between static and non-static methods depends on the specific requirements and design of your program. Static methods provide utility or shared functionality, while non-static methods are used for object-specific operations.