Class Methods

Class Methods

Class methods are functions that belong to a class. They define the behavior of objects created from the class.

Static vs non-static

• A static method belongs to the class and can be called without creating an object.
• A non-static (instance) method belongs to an object and needs an object to be called.

Static method

public class Main {
  static void myStaticMethod() {
    System.out.println("Static methods can be called without creating objects");
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    myStaticMethod(); // call without an object
  }
}

Non-static method

public class Main {
  public void myPublicMethod() {
    System.out.println("Public methods must be called by creating objects");
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Main myObj = new Main();
    myObj.myPublicMethod(); // call with an object
  }
}

When to use each

TL;DR

• Static methods belong to the class.
• Instance methods belong to objects.
• Static methods can be called without an object.