Describe the `static` keyword in Java.

• A. It indicates a variable is immutable
• B. It denotes an instance method
• C. It signifies that a member belongs to the class
• D. It is used to override default values

Answer: (C)

The static keyword in Java signifies that a member (either a variable or a method) belongs to the class itself rather than to instances of the class. When a member is declared as static, it's shared among all instances of that class. This means that there is only one copy of the static variable or method, regardless of how many objects of the class are created.

For example, if a class has a static variable, every instance of that class will see the same value for that variable. Similarly, a static method can be called without instantiating the class. This is particularly useful for utility or helper methods that don't depend on instance variables or state.

In contrast to static members, instance members require an object of the class to be accessed. This distinction allows for more efficient memory usage and easier management of shared data.