Initialize a static final field in the constructor

Question

public class A 
{    
    private static final int x;

    public A() 
    {
        x = 5;
    }
}

• final means the variable can

Answer 1

Final doesn't mean that is has to be initialized in the constructor. Generally this is what is done :

 private static final int x = 5;

static instead means that the variable will be shared through multiple instances of the class. For example :

public class Car {
   static String name;
   public Car(String name) {
      this.name = name;
   }
}

...

Car a = new Car("Volkswagen");
System.out.println(a.name); // Produces Volkswagen

Car b = new Car("Mercedes");
System.out.println(b.name); // Produces Mercedes
System.out.println(a.name); // Produces Mercedes