What is the difference between a static and a non-static initialization code block

java static static-initializer
Szere Dyeri picture Szere Dyeri · Dec 2, 2008 · Viewed 237k times · Source

My question is about one particular usage of static keyword. It is possible to use static keyword to cover a code block within a class which does not belong to any function. For example following code compiles:

public class Test {
    private static final int a;    
    static {
        a = 5;
        doSomething(a);
    }
    private static int doSomething(int x) {
        return (x+5);
    }
}

If you remove the static keyword it complains because the variable a is final. However it is possible to remove both final and static keywords and make it compile.

It is confusing for me in both ways. How am I supposed to have a code section that does not belong to any method? How is it possible to invoke it? In general, what is the purpose of this usage? Or better, where can I find documentation about this?

Answer

Lawrence Dol picture Lawrence Dol · Dec 2, 2008

The code block with the static modifier signifies a class initializer; without the static modifier the code block is an instance initializer.

Class initializers are executed in the order they are defined (top down, just like simple variable initializers) when the class is loaded (actually, when it's resolved, but that's a technicality).

Instance initializers are executed in the order defined when the class is instantiated, immediately before the constructor code is executed, immediately after the invocation of the super constructor.

If you remove static from int a, it becomes an instance variable, which you are not able to access from the static initializer block. This will fail to compile with the error "non-static variable a cannot be referenced from a static context".

If you also remove static from the initializer block, it then becomes an instance initializer and so int a is initialized at construction.

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