What is the Difference Between Static and Non Static Method?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The main difference between static and non-static methods in Java lies in theirbinding process and the entities they belong to. Here are the key differences between static and non-static methods:

  • Static methods:
  • Belong to the class itself, not instances of the class.
  • Can be called without creating an instance of the class.
  • Can only access static data members and static methods of other classes or the same class.
  • Use compile-time or early binding.
  • Cannot be overridden due to early binding.
  • Non-static methods:
  • Belong to each object generated from the class.
  • Require an instance of the class to be called.
  • Can access both static and non-static data members and methods.
  • Use runtime or dynamic binding.
  • Can be overridden due to runtime binding.

In summary, static methods are associated with the class itself and can be called without creating an instance, while non-static methods are associated with each object generated from the class and require an instance to be called. Static methods can only access static data and methods, whereas non-static methods can access both static and non-static data and methods.

Comparative Table: Static vs Non Static Method

Here is a table comparing the differences between static and non-static methods:

Feature Static Methods Non-Static Methods
Belonging Belong to the class, not instances Belong to instances
Accessibility Can be called without creating an instance Requires creating an instance
Memory Allocation Fixed in RAM, only one copy Separate copy for each instance
Data Access Can only access static data members and static methods of another class or the same class Can access static data members and static methods, as well as non-static members and methods
Binding Process Compile-time or early binding Runtime or dynamic binding
Overriding Cannot be overridden due to early binding Can be overridden due to runtime binding

Static methods belong to the class and can be called without creating an instance of the class. They can only access static data members and static methods of another class or the same class. They use compile-time or early binding and cannot be overridden. On the other hand, non-static methods belong to instances and require creating an instance to be called. They can access both static and non-static data members and methods, and they use runtime or dynamic binding, allowing them to be overridden.