[java] Where are static methods and static variables stored in Java?

For example:

class A {
    static int i=0;
    static int j;

   static void method() {
       // static k=0; can't use static for local variables only final is permitted
       // static int L;
    }
}

Where will these variables be stored in Java, in heap or in stack memory? How are they stored?

static variables are stored in the heap

This is a question with a simple answer and a long-winded answer.

The simple answer is the heap. Classes and all of the data applying to classes (not instance data) is stored in the Permanent Generation section of the heap.

The long answer is already on stack overflow:

There is a thorough description of memory and garbage collection in the JVM as well as an answer that talks more concisely about it.

It is stored in the heap referenced by the class definition. If you think about it, it has nothing to do with stack because there is no scope.

Prior to Java 8:

The static variables were stored in the permgen space(also called the method area).

PermGen Space is also known as Method Area

PermGen Space used to store 3 things

1. Class level data (meta-data)
2. interned strings
3. static variables

From Java 8 onwards

The static variables are stored in the Heap itself.From Java 8 onwards the PermGen Space have been removed and new space named as MetaSpace is introduced which is not the part of Heap any more unlike the previous Permgen Space. Meta-Space is present on the native memory (memory provided by the OS to a particular Application for its own usage) and it now only stores the class meta-data.

The interned strings and static variables are moved into the heap itself.

For official information refer : JEP 122:Remove the Permanent Gen Space

In addition to the Thomas's answer , static variable are stored in non heap area which is called Method Area.

As static variables are class level variables, they will store " permanent generation " of heap memory. Please look into this for more details of JVM. Hoping this will be helpful

When we create a static variable or method it is stored in the special area on heap: PermGen(Permanent Generation), where it lays down with all the data applying to classes(non-instance data). Starting from Java 8 the PermGen became - Metaspace. The difference is that Metaspace is auto-growing space, while PermGen has a fixed Max size, and this space is shared among all of the instances. Plus the Metaspace is a part of a Native Memory and not JVM Memory.

You can look into this for more details.

Class variables(Static variables) are stored as part of the Class object associated with that class. This Class object can only be created by JVM and is stored in permanent generation.

Also some have answered that it is stored in non heap area which is called Method Area. Even this answer is not wrong. It is just a debatable topic whether Permgen Area is a part of heap or not. Obviously perceptions differ from person to person. In my opinion we provide heap space and permgen space differently in JVM arguments. So it is a good assumption to treat them differently.

Another way to see it

Memory pools are created by JVM memory managers during runtime. Memory pool may belong to either heap or non-heap memory.A run time constant pool is a per-class or per-interface run time representation of the constant_pool table in a class file. Each runtime constant pool is allocated from the Java virtual machine’s method area and Static Variables are stored in this Method Area. Also this non-heap is nothing but perm gen area.Actually Method area is part of perm gen.(Reference)

In real world or project we have requirement in advance and needs to create variable and methods inside the class , On the basis of requirement we needs to decide whether we needs to create

1. Local ( create n access within block or method constructor)
2. Static,
3. Instance Variable( every object has its own copy of it),

=>2. Static Keyword we will used with variable which going to same for particular class throughout for all objects, e.g in selenium : we decalre webDriver as static=> so we do not need to create webdriver again and again for every test case= Static Webdriver driver(but parallel execution it will cause problem but thats another case); then, Real world scenario=>If India is class then, flag, money would be same every indian so we might take as static. Anatoher example: utility method we always declare as static b'cos it will be used in different test cases. Static stored in CMA( PreGen space)=PreGen (Fixed memory)changed to Metaspace after Java8 as now its growing dynamically