If I define a member variable inside static nested class in java like this:
public class Outer { public static class StaticNestedClass { private int mMember = 3; } } mMember would be interpreted static because its class is static? What about static nested class members in java?
Thanks in advance.
No, static on a class doesn't have the same meaning as staticon a field. The field mMember is a private instance field of the nested class StaticNestedClass. You can use this nested class as if you were using any other top-level class, as long as you import it or use it with reference to its containing class, ie. Outer.StaticNestedClass. For example,
import Outer.StaticNestedClass; ... StaticNestedClass instance = new StaticNestedClass(); or
import Outer; ... Outer.StaticNestedClass instance = new Outer.StaticNestedClass(); An inner class cannot declare static members under some rules, see here.
from the java doc
As with class methods and variables, a static nested class is associated with its outer class. And like static class methods, a static nested class cannot refer directly to instance variables or methods defined in its enclosing class — it can use them only through an object reference.
Note: A static nested class interacts with the instance members of its outer class (and other classes) just like any other top-level class. In effect, a static nested class is behaviorally a top-level class that has been nested in another top-level class for packaging convenience. Static nested classes are accessed using the enclosing class name:
OuterClass.StaticNestedClass For example, to create an object for the static nested class, use this syntax:
OuterClass.StaticNestedClass nestedObject = new OuterClass.StaticNestedClass(); 