Ans: So that it can be invoked without creating an instance of that class.
In Java, the main method is required for the execution of a Java program. The main method serves as the entry point for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to start the execution of the program. To understand why the main method is declared as static, let’s delve into the reasons:
- Entry Point:
- The
mainmethod is the starting point of the Java program. When you run a Java application, the JVM looks for themainmethod to begin the execution of the program.
- The
- No Object Creation:
- Before the
mainmethod is called, no objects of the class have been created. This is because the program starts its execution before any objects are instantiated. Making themainmethod static ensures that it can be called without creating an instance of the class.
- Before the
- JVM Loading:
- The JVM loads the class into memory and looks for the
mainmethod to start the program. If themainmethod were not static, the JVM would need to create an instance of the class to call themainmethod. However, at that point in the program’s execution, no instances have been created yet.
- The JVM loads the class into memory and looks for the
- Consistency:
- Declaring the
mainmethod as static is a convention and ensures consistency across all Java programs. It emphasizes that themainmethod is a class-level method, not associated with any specific instance of the class.
- Declaring the
In summary, the main method is declared as static in Java to allow it to be called by the JVM without the need for object instantiation, and it serves as the entry point for the program’s execution.