Difference between static and non-static method in Java

What is an static method ?:

A static method is a method that belongs to a class, but its not belongs to an instance of that class and this method can be called without the instance or object of that class.

What is an non-static method ?:
Every methods in java are non-static method, but the methods must not have static keyword before method name. non-static methods can access any static method and static variable also, without using the object of the class.

Below are the various important differences among these:

1. Accessing members and methods:
   • In static method, the method can only access only static data members and static methods of another class or same class but cannot access non-static methods and variables. Also a static method can rewrite the values of any static data member.
   • In non-static method, the method can access static data members and static methods as well as non-static members and method of another class or same class, also can change the values of any static data member.
2. Calling process:
   • In static method, The memory of a static method is fixed in the ram, for this reason we don’t need the object of a class in which the static method is defined to call the static method. To call the method we need to write the name of the method followed by the class name.

     class GFG{
      public static void geek()
      { }
     }
     
     // calling
     GFG.geek();
     

     
     

     // Java program to call a static method    class GFG {        // static method     public static int sum(int a, int b)     {         return a + b;     } }    class Main {     public static void main(String[] args)     {         int n = 3, m = 6;            // call the static method         int s = GFG.sum(n, m);            System.out.print("sum is = " + s);     } }

     Output:

     sum is = 9

   • In non-static method, the memory of non-static method is not fixed in the ram, so we need class object to call a non-static method. To call the method we need to write the name of the method followed by the class object name.

     class GFG{
      public void geek()
      { }
     }
     
     // creating object
     GFG g = new GFG();
     
     g.geek();
     
     // calling
     

     Output:

     sum is = 9

3. Binding process:
   • In static method, the method use compile time or early binding. For this reason we can access static method without creation a instance.
   • In non-static method, the method use runtime or dynamic binding. So that we cannot access a non-static method without creation a instance.
4. Overriding:
   • In static method, we cannot override a static method, because of early binding.
     Example:
     
     
     
     
     

     // Override of non-static method    class Parent {     void show()     {         System.out.println("Parent");     } }    // Parent inherit in Child class class Child extends Parent {        // override show() of Parent     void show()     {         System.out.println("Child");     } }    class GFG {     public static void main(String[] args)     {         Parent p = new Parent();         // calling Parent's show()         p.show();            Parent c = new Child();         // calling Child's show()         c.show();     } }

     Output:

     Parent
     Child
     

   • In non-static method, we can override a non-static method. Because for override we need runtime polymorphism, which is happens only in runtime binding.
     Example:

     // Override of static method class Parent {        // static method     static void show()     {         System.out.println("Parent");     } }    // Parent inherit in Child class class Child extends Parent {        // override show() of Parent     void show()     {         System.out.println("Child");     } }    class GFG {     public static void main(String[] args)     {         Parent p = new Parent();         // calling Parent's show()         p.show();         // cannot override Parent's show()     } }

     Error:

     java:15: error: show() in Child cannot override show() in Parent
         void show()
              ^
       overridden method is static

5. Memory allocation:
   • In static method, memory allocation happens only once, because the static keyword fixed a particular memory for that method in ram. So when the method is called every time in a program, each time that particular memory is used. For that reason the less memory is allocated.
   • In non-static method, here memory allocation happens when the method is invoked and the memory is allocated every time when the method is called. So much memory is used here.

Difference table:

POINTS	STATIC METHOD	NON-STATIC METHOD
Definition	A static method is a method that belongs to a class, but its not belongs to an instance of that class and this method can be called without the instance or object of that class.	Every methods in java are non-static method, but the methods must not have static keyword before method name. non-static methods can access any static method and static variable also, without using the object of the class.
Accessing members and methods	In static method, the method can only access only static data members and static methods of another class or same class but cannot access non-static methods and variables.	In non-static method, the method can access static data members and static methods as well as non-static members and method of another class or same class.
Binding process	Static method uses compile time or early binding.	Non-static method uses runtime or dynamic binding.
Overriding	Static method cannot be overridden because of early binding.	Non-static method can be overridden because of runtime binding.
Memory allocation	In static method, less memory is use for execution because memory allocation happens only once, because the static keyword fixed a particular memory for that method in ram. .	In non-static method, much memory is used for execution because here memory allocation happens when the method is invoked and the memory is allocated every time when the method is called.

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