Which statement describes a static method in a class?

Which statement describes a static method in a class?

• A. A method that is associated with instances of a class.
• B. A method that belongs to the class itself and can be called without creating an instance.
• C. A method that automatically executes on object destruction.
• D. A method that stores data in static fields only.

Answer: (B)

A static method is a function that belongs to the class itself rather than to any particular object. Because it’s tied to the class, you can call it using the class name without creating an instance of the class. This makes static methods ideal for utility operations or actions that don’t depend on instance state. In contrast, instance methods are designed to operate on data stored in a specific object, which is why you need to create an object to call them. The idea of a method that automatically runs when an object is destroyed describes a destructor or finalizer, not a static method. And while a static method can work with static fields, saying a static method stores data in static fields only isn’t accurate—the method’s defining trait is its association with the class, not where it stores data.

A static method is a function that belongs to the class itself rather than to any particular object. Because it’s tied to the class, you can call it using the class name without creating an instance of the class. This makes static methods ideal for utility operations or actions that don’t depend on instance state.

In contrast, instance methods are designed to operate on data stored in a specific object, which is why you need to create an object to call them. The idea of a method that automatically runs when an object is destroyed describes a destructor or finalizer, not a static method. And while a static method can work with static fields, saying a static method stores data in static fields only isn’t accurate—the method’s defining trait is its association with the class, not where it stores data.