When to use static methods

In Java, static methods are methods that belong to a class rather than an instance of the class. They can be called without creating an instance of the class, using the name of the class and the dot operator (.).

Here's an example of a static method:

public class MyClass {
  public static void doSomething() {
    // code goes here
  }
}

You can call this method like this:

MyClass.doSomething();

There are a few cases where it makes sense to use static methods:

1. When the method does not depend on the state of an instance of the class. If a method does not modify any instance variables and does not depend on any instance variables, then it can be static.

2. When the method is a utility method that is used by other parts of the program. For example, a utility method that performs a calculation and returns a result can be static.

3. When you want to provide a way to call a method without creating an instance of the class. This can be useful in situations where creating an instance is unnecessary or inefficient.

It's important to note that static methods cannot access non-static variables or methods. If a static method needs to access instance variables or methods, it must do so through an instance of the class.