when exactly are we supposed to use “public static

问题:

I have seen much code where people write public static final String mystring = ... and then just use a value.

Why do they have to do that? Why do they have to initialize the value as final prior to using it?

UPDATE

Ok, thanks all for all your answers, I understand the meaning of those key (public static final). What I dont understand is why people use that even if the constant will be used only in one place and only in the same class. why declaring it? why dont we just use the variable?

回答1:

final indicates that the value of the variable won't change - in other words, a variable who's value can't be modified after it is declared.

Use public final static String when you want to create a String that:

1. belongs to the class (static: no instance necessary to use it), and that
2. won't change (final), for instance when you want to define a String constant that will be available to all instances of the class, and to other objects using the class.

Example:

public final static String MY_CONSTANT = "SomeValue";

// ... in some other code, possibly in another object, use the constant:
if (input.equals(MyClass.MY_CONSTANT)

Similarly:

public static final int ERROR_CODE = 127;

It isn't required to use final, but it keeps a constant from being changed inadvertently during program execution, and serves as an indicator that the variable is a constant.

Even if the constant will only be used - read - in the current class and/or in only one place, it's good practice to declare all constants as final: it's clearer, and during the lifetime of the code the constant may end up being used in more than one place.

Furthermore using final may allow the implementation to perform some optimization, e.g. by inlining an actual value where the constant is used.

回答2:

1. Static means..You can use it without instantiate of the class or using any object.

2. final..It is a keyword which is used for make the string constant. You can not change the value of that string. Look at the example below:

     public class StringTest { 
              static final String str = "Hello"; 
     public static void main(String args[]) { 
              // str = "world"; // gives error 
              System.out.println(str); // called without the help of an object                       
              System.out.println(StringTest.str);// called with class name  
                } 
            } 
   

Thanks

回答3:

The keyword final means that the value is constant(it cannot be changed). It is analogous to const in C.

And you can treat static as a global variable which has scope. It basically means if you change it for one object it will be changed for all just like a global variable(limited by scope).

Hope it helps.

回答4:

final indicates that the value cannot be changed once set. static allows you to set the value, and that value will be the same for ALL instances of the class which utilize it. Also, you may access the value of a public static string w/o having an instance of a class.

回答5:

static means that the object will only be created once, and does not have an instance object containing it. The way you have written is best used when you have something that is common for all objects of the class and will never change. It even could be used without creating an object at all.

Usually it's best to use final when you expect it to be final so that the compiler will enforce that rule and you know for sure. static ensures that you don't waste memory creating many of the same thing if it will be the same value for all objects.

回答6:

Usually for defining constants, that you reuse at many places making it single point for change, used within single class or shared across packages. Making a variable final avoid accidental changes.

回答7:

 public makes it accessible across the other classes. You can use it without instantiate of the class or using any object.

 static makes it uniform value across all the class instances. It ensures that you don't waste memory creating many of the same thing if it will be the same value for all the objects.

 final makes it non-modifiable value. It's a "constant" value which is same across all the class instances and cannot be modified.

回答8:

public makes it accessible across other classes. static makes it uniform value across all the class instances. final makes it non-modifiable value. So basically it's a "constant" value which is same across all the class instances and which cannot be modified. With respect to your concern "What I don't understand is why people use that even if the constant will be used only in one place and only in the same class. Why declaring it? Why don't we just use the variable?" I would say since it is a public field the constant value can also be used elsewhere in some other class using ClassName.value. eg: a class named Math may have PI as final static long value which can be accessed as Math.PI.

回答9:

Why do people use constants in classes instead of a variable?

readability and maintainability,

having some number like 40.023 in your code doesn't say much about what the number represents, so we replace it by a word in capitals like "USER_AGE_YEARS". Later when we look at the code its clear what that number represents.

Why do we not just use a variable? Well we would if we knew the number would change, but if its some number that wont change, like 3.14159.. we make it final.

But what if its not a number like a String? In that case its mostly for maintainability, if you are using a String multiple times in your code, (and it wont be changing at runtime) it is convenient to have it as a final string at the top of the class. That way when you want to change it, there is only one place to change it rather than many.

For example if you have an error message that get printed many times in your code, having final String ERROR_MESSAGE = "Something went bad." is easier to maintain, if you want to change it from "Something went bad." to "It's too late jim he's already dead", you would only need to change that one line, rather than all the places you would use that comment.