Feb 21, 2009 · Additionally, in C, static can be used in array declarators to specify minimum size of the array (non-function array declarators cannot use this keyword). Consider this declaration: void func(int foo[static 42]); The function func() takes an array of at least 42 elements. Note that C++ does not support this use of the static keyword.

The static keyword is used in C to restrict the visibility of a function or variable to its translation unit. Translation unit is the ultimate input to a C compiler from which an object file is generated. Check this: Linkage | Translation unit

Mar 6, 2013 · using a static keyword before the function declaration limits its linkage to internal, i.e a static function cannot be used within a file outside of its definition. C. Static Keyword used for member variables and functions of classes. 1. 'static' keyword for member variables of classes. I start directly with an example here

Nov 3, 2009 · The keyword static has several uses; Outside of a function it simply limits the visibility of a function or variable to the compilation unit (.c file) the function or variable occurs in. That way the function or variable doesn't become global.

Nov 26, 2014 · The static keyword serves the same purposes in C and C++. When used at file level (outside of a function), it sets the visibility of the item it's applied to. Static items are not visible outside of their compilation unit (e.g., to the linker). Their duration is the same as the duration of the program.

The second property static sets for an identifier, is its linkage, which is a concept used at link time and tells the linker which identifiers refer to the same object. The static keyword makes an identifier have internal linkage, which means it cannot refer to identifiers of the same name in another translation unit.

There is a big difference between static functions in C and static member functions in C++. In C, a static function is not visible outside of its translation unit, which is the object file it is compiled into. In other words, making a function static limits its scope. You can think of a static function as being "private" to its *.c file ...

Mar 15, 2011 · The static keyword in C is used in a compiled file (.c as opposed to .h) so that the function exists only in that file. Normally, when you create a function, the compiler generates cruft the linker can use to, well, link a function call to that function.

May 14, 2020 · Static members are initialized on first access to the class and are executed in textual order. Static methods and properties are parts of the class and not instances. Static has nothing to do with readonly or constant. Static is a way like a member accessed, readonly and constant is way like a member stored/managed.

The other use case is using static on the global scope, i.e. for global variables and functions: static functions and global variable are local to the compile unit, i.e. they don't show up in the export table of the compiled binary object. They thus don't pollute the namespace.