Can a class be instantiated as static in java?

Question

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Java: Static Class?

static class c1(){

}

Can this be done? I'm confused with this and memory mapping with non static stuff's. Please help

score 10 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 04 '12 at 12:56

The significance of static with a class definition is not whether the class can be instantiated or not, but rather whether the class must be instantiated from within a non-static method of the outer class or not.

Non-static inner class instances are tied to the instance that created them -- there's a pointer in the inner class instance back to the creating instance (which is useful in a number of ways). Static inner class instances are not tied to the creating instance.

(I worked in the innards of the JVM for about 10 years and I still find this confusing.)

"Static inner class instances are not tied to the creating instance." This is what I needed! — Matt Logan, Mar 03 '14 at 20:18

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 04 '12 at 12:43

Can the class be instantiated with the static keyword in java ? eg : static class c1(){ }

Your terminology is incorrect. "Instantiating a class" means creating an instance of the class; i.e. creating an object. This is done using the new operation. Your example is really about declaring a class.

Having said that, yes you can declare a class as static, but this can only done for a nested class; i.e. a class declared inside another class.

am confused with this and the memory mapping with non static stuff's please help

I haven't a clue what you are talking about here. If you need more help on this point, you will need to explain yourself more clearly.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 04 '12 at 12:56

1

static doesn't have anything to do with memory mapping. It means there is no instance it is associated with.

For a static class it means instances of the class are not associated with an outer class instance.

answered Nov 04 '12 at 12:56

Peter Lawrey

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 04 '12 at 12:57

0

It breaks the paradigms. Consider this one: Static members are members that every instance has in common, but its not clear how to extend this idea of shared to a class?

What did you expect the static keyword to do?

answered Nov 04 '12 at 12:57

Mikhail

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 04 '12 at 13:11

0

You can have static class as shown below

class A
{
static class B   //static inner class
    {
     static void dis()
      {
      System.out.println("this is me");
      }
    }
}

class four extends A.B
{ 
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
    dis();

    }
}

answered Nov 04 '12 at 13:11

Abhishekkumar

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In the above xample ..an mulitple level inheritance is tnstantiated ...is that possible in JAVA ? – keshav kashyap Nov 05 '12 at 07:20

Can a class be instantiated as static in java?

5 Answers5