Static Nested classes

[Smitha Amresh]

Hi All,

I am studying about static nested classes and I am surprised to know that we can create instances of static nested classes.

public class Test{
public static void main(String[] arg){

Test.staticTest t = new Test.staticTest();
Test.staticTest t1 = new Test.staticTest();

}
public static class staticTest{

}
}


According to my understanding when we append static modifier that means we have a single instance associated with a class not instance of the enclosing object.

Then isn't it logically wrong procedure to create static class instance?? Please explain me how is it possible.


Thanks in advance,
Smitha

[Nitesh Kant]

A static variable in a class is shared by all instances of that class in a JVM for a class loader.
Now, a class definition is different than a variable declaration. A class is declared static so that it can be accessed statically(without an instance) from static/non-static blocks in same/other classes. This does not mean that all instances of that class will be static. It is perfectly legal to define an instance variable of a static class.
You need to understand that it is just the class "definition" that is static.