Use of static inner classes

[Paul Barnes]

I am trying to figure out the purpose of using a static inner class...
1. Why wouldn't you just create a package level static class instead of a static inner class which ends up being equivalent to a package level static class anyway?
2. What are the pros of cons of using them?
3. And can anyone give me an instance of some code where a static inner class was used a data store for general use by the system?
Thanks for helping me to understand this...

[Cindy Glass]

It's one way of controlling namespace.

[William Barnes]

Even if you declare the class as static other classes can see it. The inner class lets you hide from everyone.

[Shanee Bradley]

There are useful to hide a node class in a Linked list or hide an iterator...all kinds of uses.