Introduction

• Static methods are methods in an interface that are declared using the static keyword.
• They were introduced in Java 8 to allow interfaces to have utility/helper methods.
• Static methods belong to the interface itself, not to the objects implementing the interface.
• They can be called using the interface name without creating an object of the implementing class.
• Static methods cannot be overridden by implementing classes.

• Uses of Static Methods:
  • To define utility/helper methods inside interfaces, similar to static methods in classes.
  • To avoid creating separate utility classes for related helper functions.
  • To provide common functionality for all implementing classes without the need for overriding.
  • To keep related functionality encapsulated within the interface.

Program:

• Below is the program for Static Methods in an Interface:

  interface MyInterface
  {
      // Abstract method (must be implemented by implementing classes)
      void m1();
  
      // Static method (can be called using interface name)
      static void m2()
      {
          System.out.println("This is a static method inside an interface.");
      }
  }
  
  class MyClass implements MyInterface
  {
      @Override
      public void m1()
      {
          System.out.println("Implementation of abstract method.");
      }
  }
  
  public class MainApp2
  {
      public static void main(String[] args)
      {
          MyClass obj = new MyClass();
          obj.m1();      // Calls implemented abstract method
  
          MyInterface.m2();   // Calling static method using interface name
      }
  }

  Output:

  Implementation of abstract method.
  This is a static method inside an interface.