A static variable is a variable that is shared across all instances of a class.
A static method is a method that can be called on a class and usually does not require the class to be instantiated.
Again if I were to pick three different languages I would give three different answers.
Wikipedia might also help a bit to define these things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_(com... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_vari...
class A {
public static function Foo() {
echo 'Static method called!';
}
};
// Calling a static method
A::Foo();
// Result: 'Static method called!'
// Simple as that!
You don't have to instantiate a class to call a static method that belongs to it.
These functions are useful because you can create things like singletons.
class Singleton {
$this.m_hData; // whatever data you have there
$self::Instance = 0; // public static
public static function Instance () {
if ($self::Instance == 0) {
$self::Instance = new Singleton();
}
return $self::Instance;
};
};
Singleton::Instance()->m_hData = "My Name";
// My PHP is a little rusty since i don't use it anymore.
