Class load time - static 'initializers' - once...only?

[Trevor Green]

"Static initializers are initialised once at class load time."
So, if you create multiple instances of a class, the class' static initializer will only run once.
What happens if all those instances of the object are garbage collected and, eventually, you create an instance of the same class again.
Does the static initializer not get processed again? Never?

[Dave Vick]

Trevor
Your first quote answered the question.

Originally posted by Trevor Green:
"Static initializers are initialised once at class load time."

The key word here is load. The static initializers are run when the class is first loaded - the class is loaded when it is first referenced in your code. After that it stays loaded until the program stops running. So even if you create and then destroy all the instances of that class the class itself is still loaded.
hope that helps
Dave

I lied, I got curious so went to the jls and checked it out. Apparently classes can be unloaded before the program ends. Check out http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/second_edition/html/execution.doc.html#74299

[This message has been edited by Dave Vick (edited June 14, 2001).]