Static Variable vs Instance Variable


Let us understand the differences between static and instance variable.

Java language uses variables in different scopes: static scope, local scope, block scope. Java has different ways of storing data either as primitive data types or as Objects. Class specifies type of a object. Static variable is defined generically for the entire class and not for a specific object. Hence Static variables belong to a class and hence has the same value for all objects of the class. Instance (object) variables belong to a specific object.

Static variableInstance variable
A static variable is a property of a class. An instance variable is a property of an instance.
A static variable is created only once when the classloader loads the class. An instance variable is created everytime an instance is created.
A static variable is used when you want to store a value that represents all the instances like count, sum, average etc.An instance variable is used to store a value that represents property of single instance.

Declaring an static variable

    static int countOfOrders;


Declaring an instance variable

    String OrderId;

 Let us consider the following example:

public class Order{
	//static variable
	static int countOfOrders;
	//instance variable
	String orderId;

public static void main(String args[]){ Order orderInst = new Order(); //Assigning to static variable Order.countOfOrders = 10; //Assigning to instance variable orderInst.orderId="Ord1_11Nov2017_3578923"; String name="Jan";//simple local variable. it is not instance and not static. } }

Assigning to static variable

    Order.countOfOrders = 10;
    orderInst.countOfOrders= 11;

Both the above assignments work. However, Using the class name is the preferred approach.


Assigning to instance variable

    orderInst.orderId="Ord1_11Nov2017_3578923";






Static Variable vs Instance Variable


Let us understand the differences between static and instance variable.

Java language uses variables in different scopes: static scope, local scope, block scope. Java has different ways of storing data either as primitive data types or as Objects. Class specifies type of a object. Static variable is defined generically for the entire class and not for a specific object. Hence Static variables belong to a class and hence has the same value for all objects of the class. Instance (object) variables belong to a specific object.

Static variableInstance variable
A static variable is a property of a class. An instance variable is a property of an instance.
A static variable is created only once when the classloader loads the class. An instance variable is created everytime an instance is created.
A static variable is used when you want to store a value that represents all the instances like count, sum, average etc.An instance variable is used to store a value that represents property of single instance.

Declaring an static variable

    static int countOfOrders;


Declaring an instance variable

    String OrderId;

 Let us consider the following example:

public class Order{
	//static variable
	static int countOfOrders;
	//instance variable
	String orderId;

public static void main(String args[]){ Order orderInst = new Order(); //Assigning to static variable Order.countOfOrders = 10; //Assigning to instance variable orderInst.orderId="Ord1_11Nov2017_3578923"; String name="Jan";//simple local variable. it is not instance and not static. } }

Assigning to static variable

    Order.countOfOrders = 10;
    orderInst.countOfOrders= 11;

Both the above assignments work. However, Using the class name is the preferred approach.


Assigning to instance variable

    orderInst.orderId="Ord1_11Nov2017_3578923";






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