Types of Variables in Java with Examples





Hey guys in this quick post, we will discuss different types of variables in Java programming with examples

Overview


Variables is just a placeholder or container to store the data, it can be changed during the program execution.

There are 3 different types of variables:

  1. Instance variables
  2. Static variables
  3. Local variables

Instance variables


  • Instance variables are declared inside the class but outside the method
public class Test {
	
	int a = 10;
	
	public void m1() {
		//TODO
	}
}
  • Instance variables cannot be accessed directly inside the static method or block
public class Test {
	
	int a = 10;
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		System.out.println(a); //compilation error
	}
}
  • We can access the instance variables inside static method using Object reference
public class Test {
	
	int a = 10;
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Test t = new Test();
		System.out.println(t.a); //10
	}
}
  • Initialization is optional for instance variables, JVM will provide the default values
public class Test {
	
	int a;
	String b;
	boolean c;
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Test t = new Test();
		System.out.println(t.a); //0
		System.out.println(t.b); //null
		System.out.println(t.c); //false
	}
}

Static variables


  • Static variables are also called as class level variables. Hence we cannot create static variables inside methods
public class Test {
	
	public void m1() {
		static int a = 10; //compilation error
		
	}
}
  • It creates a single copy for every object and that copy will be shared by all objects of that class
public class Test {
	static int a = 10;
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Test t1 = new Test();
		System.out.println(t1.a); //10
		Test t2 = new Test();
		System.out.println(t2.a); //10
	}
}
  • Static variables can be accessed directly by using class name
public class Test {
	static int a = 10;
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		System.out.println(Test.a); //10
	}
}
  • Just like instance variables, initialization is optional for static variables as well, JVM will provide the default values
public class Test {
	static int a;
	static boolean b;
	static String c;
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		System.out.println(Test.a); //0
		System.out.println(Test.b); //false
		System.out.println(Test.c); //null
	}
}

Local variables


  • Local variables are also called as temporary variables
  • Local variables are created inside the method or block or constructor
public class Test {
	public Test() {
		int b = 10;
	}
	public void m1() {
		int a = 10;
		
	}
}
  • The scope of the local variables is exactly same as the block in which we declared it.
public class Test {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		int sum = 0;
		for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
			sum = sum + i;
		}
		System.out.println(sum);
		System.out.println(i); //compilation error
	}
}
  • For the local variables, we should initialize the default values before using it
public class Test {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		int a;
		System.out.println(a); //compilation error
		a = 10;
		System.out.println(a); //10
	}
}

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Bushan Sirgur

Hey guys, I am Bushan Sirgur from Banglore, India. Currently, I am working as an Associate project in an IT company.

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