C# Static Class

In C#, a static class is a class that cannot be instantiated, and it can only contain static members (fields, methods, properties). This guide covers the syntax, usage, and characteristics of static classes in C#.

Syntax

public static class MyStaticClass
{
    public static int myStaticField;
    
    public static void MyStaticMethod()
    {
        // Static method implementation
    }
}

Example

public static class Logger
{
    public static void Log(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"[LOG] {message}");
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Logger.Log("Application started.");
    }
}

Output

The output will be a log message indicating that the application has started.

Explanation

• A static class is declared using the static keyword before the class keyword.
• All members of a static class must be static.
• In the example, the Logger static class contains a static method Log for logging messages.

Use

Use a static class in C# when:

• You want to group related static members together.
• Instantiating objects of the class is not required.
• You need a centralized location for utility methods or constants.

Important Points

• Static classes cannot be instantiated with the new keyword.
• All members of a static class must be static.
• Static classes are often used for utility purposes, such as logging, helper methods, or constants.

Summary

C# static classes provide a way to organize and encapsulate static members in a coherent and centralized manner. They are often employed for utility functions, constants, or methods that don't require instance-specific data. Understanding the characteristics and use cases of static classes can contribute to writing more modular and efficient C# code.