Static vs Instance Methods in Java: Understanding Their Differences

In Java, static methods belong to the class, while instance methods belong to objects. A static method can be called without creating an instance, whereas an instance method requires an object. Static methods are useful for utility functions that don’t need object state.

Here’s an example:

class Example {
    public static void staticMethod() {
        System.out.println("Static method");
    }

    public void instanceMethod() {
        System.out.println("Instance method");
    }
}

Example.staticMethod();  // No object needed
Example obj = new Example();
obj.instanceMethod();  // Requires object

In this example, `staticMethod()` can be called directly, while `instanceMethod()` needs an object. Understanding the difference helps in designing more efficient, maintainable Java applications.