C# Static Members

In this class, we will explain the static member, and how to use it in classes, variable, methods, and other members.

C# Static Members

In C#, static keyword can be used with classes, variables, properties, operators, methods, event and constructors. For classes, the static keywords will make it non-instantiable, meaning the class can’t have an instance. The new keyword cannot be used to create an instance of a static class. The methods, properties and other members in that class can be accessed by having the name of the class preceding the method or property. Example:

MyStaticClass.MyStaticMethod;

Syntax of Static Class in C#

static class ClassName
    {
 
    }

Example of Static Class in C#

static class TutorialsPanelStaticMembers
    {
        public static string Concat(string a, string b)
        {
            return a + " " + b;
        }

    }
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(TutorialsPanelStaticMembers.Concat("Tutorials", "Panel"));

            Console.ReadKey();
        }

Output:

Note: only static members can be declared in a static class. However, no-static class can have static members. The code below will throw an exception:

    static class TutorialsPanelStaticMembers
    {
        public static string Concat(string a, string b)
        {
            return a + " " + b;
        }

        public string Name;

    }

Error:

MyProject.TutorialsPanelStaticMembers.Name’: cannot declare instance members in a static class

Static Constructors

In contrary of non-static constructors, a static constructor is used to initialize the class itself. In non-static class, a Non-static constructor is to be used to initialize an instant of that class.

In C#, a static constructor is called automatically before any static members are referenced. It cannot have a parameter, doesn’t not have a access modifier, and cannot be called directly.

Example of Static Constructor in C#

namespace CSharpConsoleApp
{
  public   class ProgrammingTutorials
    {
        // Static Constructor

       static ProgrammingTutorials()
        {

            Console.WriteLine("Static Constructor");

        }

        // Default Constructor

        public ProgrammingTutorials()
        {

            Console.WriteLine("Default Constructor");

        }

    }
}

Now call both Constructors from the main method:

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            // both Default Static constructors will be invoked for the first instance

            ProgrammingTutorials _tutorials1 = new ProgrammingTutorials();

            // only Default constructor will be invoked

            ProgrammingTutorials _tutorials2 = new ProgrammingTutorials();
            Console.ReadKey();
        }

Output:

Note: Static keyword cannot be used with indexers, destructors or types other than classes.