something puzzled about "static"

[zhu weitao]

code about:

class Use{

static int maxElements;

Use(int maxElements){

this.maxElements  = maxElements;
}
}
 
public class Test{

public static void main(String [] args){

Use a = new Use(100);
Use b = new Use(100);

//System.out.println(Use.maxElements);

if(a.equals(b)){

System.out.println("Object have the same values");
}
else{

System.out.println("Object have the diffenent values");
}
}
}
 

the var "maxElements" in class "Use" is declared "static",
but here ,it's used in this method "this.maxElements",
does it belong to a class not a object?

I tried it,and it did compile and run correctly

why???

[Brij Garg]

this.maxElements = maxElements;

At the time of compilation compiler will treat this statement as
Use.maxElement.
Static variables are always class variables.

[Ben Smither]

Java allows to use a reference to an object instance to refer static variables and methods. The this in the constructor is the same as an object reference "useA" in the example as follows.
Use useA = new Use();
useA.maxElements = 100;

Originally posted by zhu weitao:
code about:

class Use{

static int maxElements;

Use(int maxElements){

this.maxElements  = maxElements;
}
}
 
public class Test{

public static void main(String [] args){

Use a = new Use(100);
Use b = new Use(100);

//System.out.println(Use.maxElements);

if(a.equals(b)){

System.out.println("Object have the same values");
}
else{

System.out.println("Object have the diffenent values");
}
}
}
 

the var "maxElements" in class "Use" is declared "static",
but here ,it's used in this method "this.maxElements",
does it belong to a class not a object?

I tried it,and it did compile and run correctly

why???

[Nabila Mohammad]

You just cannot use "this" or "super" within Static methods.
It will give a compiler error.
[ September 11, 2008: Message edited by: Nabila Mohammad ]

[Brij Garg]

Java allows to use a reference to an object instance to refer static variables and methods. The this in the constructor is the same as an object reference "useA" in the example as follows.
Use useA = new Use();
useA.maxElements = 100;

java allow us to use objects to refer to static variables and methods.
But we should not use objects references to refer to statics.....
At compilation time object references get repleces with class name.