Static Fields

• A static field belongs to the class, not to any object of the class. Also called class field.

• public class BankAccount
  {
     . . .
     private double balance;
     private int accountNumber;
     private static int lastAssignedNumber = 1000;
  }

  If lastAssignedNumber was not static, each instance of BankAccount would have its own value of lastAssignedNumber

• public BankAccount()
  {
     // Generates next account number to be assigned
     lastAssignedNumber++; // Updates the static field
     // Assigns field to account number of this bank account
     accountNumber = lastAssignedNumber; // Sets the instance field
  }

• Minimize the use of static fields. (Static final fields are ok.)