02_Static Member Functions

Static Member Function

Defination

Static member functions can be used with static member variables in the class. An object of the class is not required to call them.

Interesting Facts about Static functions ✔

• The this pointer does not exist in static member functions because the this pointer belongs to the object, whereas static member functions belong to the class, not to the object. In static behavior, we can also call other static data members and static functions. Static member functions cannot be constant.

Tip 👀

You can call a static function by the object name with the memory access operator (.), but it is not considered good programming practice. It is better to access the static member function of a class by the class name with the scope resolution operator (::).

Example code

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Circle
{
    int radius;
    static const float Pi;

public:
    //--------Setter/Mutator------------
    void setRadius(int radius)
    {
        this->radius = radius;
    }

    int getRadius() const
    {
        return radius;
    }

    //-----Getter/Accessor--------------
    static int getPi()
    {
        // Here,you can't access any data member and member function directly except static data member and other static function
        //  like
        // radius=6;  -->error
        //  setRadius(5);   -->error

        return Pi;
    }
};

int main()
{ // Accessing static data member of class through static function with class name and scope resolution operator
    cout << Circle::getPi();
}