Error when declaring & initializing string as static in java

Question

I'm trying to declare and initialize local String variable as static , but there is a compilation error showing Illegal modifier static. Why is it so?

Here is my code:

public class StringInstance {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
    static String s = "a";

    if(s instanceof String){
        System.out.println("Yes it is");
     }
  }
}

`static` only applies to class members. You can't declare a `static` variable inside a method. — Chris Martin, Mar 09 '16 at 02:58
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3378758/how-do-i-declare-a-static-variable-inside-the-main-method — seenukarthi, Mar 09 '16 at 02:58
@faizalvasaya as the error indicates we cannot have static field in the methods. That doesn't make sense. You need to remove the static modifier. — Madhusudana Reddy Sunnapu, Mar 09 '16 at 02:59
`static` means class-level. You have to declare them at the class level. — Jonah Haney, Mar 09 '16 at 03:05

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 09 '16 at 03:00

2

The String you are declaring will be static because it's scope is static, so you don't need the static modifier. But if you want to declare it static outside the scope of main() then do it like this:

public class StringInstance {
  static String s = "a";
    public static void main(String[] args) {

    if(s instanceof String){
        System.out.println("Yes it is");
    }
  }
}

answered Mar 09 '16 at 03:00

Jonah Haney

521
3
12

My doubt is that , since main being a static block , it should be possible to declare as static inside it. – faizal vasaya Mar 09 '16 at 03:08
@faizalvasaya It is already static without the explicit `static` modifier because it is inside a static scope. – Jonah Haney Mar 09 '16 at 03:09
Thank you @Jonah Haney ! You clarified my doubt. – faizal vasaya Mar 09 '16 at 03:11

Error when declaring & initializing string as static in java

1 Answers1