Static Declaration

[Saket Barve]

Can somebody explain how the variable i can be declared twice in the following error-free code?
The output is 100. Now I don't understand what happens to the integer i assigned the value of 10 in the static block.
I'd appreciate any feedback at the earliest.
Thanks,
Saket

 
public class Decl {
    static int i = 100;
    static {
        int i = 10;
    }
    
    // Tester main
    public static void main( String args[] ) {
      System.out.println(i);
    }// End Main
} // End class Decl
 

[Corey McGlone]

The i declared within the static initializer block is "shadowing" the static member varaible of the same name. In short, that means that, within that block, any references to a variable named i will refer to the local variable, not the member variable. Also, as the new variable i is local, it goes out of scope as soon as the static initializer block completes. Therefore, when main is executed, there is only one variable named i - the member variable. The other once has already gone out of scope.
You can find more information about shadowing declarations in the JLS, §6.3.1 Shadowing Declarations.
I hope that helps,
Corey
[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Corey McGlone ]

[Marlene Miller]

Corey, crystal clear, as always.

[Saket Barve]

Thanks Corey, I get it now.