Solely nested classes can be static. By performing so you can use the nested class without holding an instance of the outer class.
class OuterClass{
public static class StaticNestedClass{
}
public class InnerClass{
}
public InnerClass getAnInnerClass(){
return new InnerClass();
}
//This method doesn't work
public static InnerClass getAnInnerClassStatically(){
return new InnerClass();
}
}
class OtherClass{
//Use of a static nested class:
private OuterClass.StaticNestedClass staticNestedClass = new OuterClass.StaticNestedClass();
//Doesn't work
private OuterClass.InnerClass innerClass = new OuterClass.InnerClass();
//Use of an inner class:
private OuterClass outerclass= new OuterClass();
private OuterClass.InnerClass innerClass2 = outerclass.getAnInnerClass();
private OuterClass.InnerClass innerClass3 = outerclass.new InnerClass();
To learn more about nested classes click here.
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