Why does Java compiler allow static variable access through null object? [duplicate]

Answer 1

The static members are shared by all the instances of a class and not reallocated separately to each instance. These are loaded by the classloader moment the class is encountered for the first time. A related SO question

Please do keep in mind these static members do not belong to a specific class instance. More info here. I have included a small code snippet for reference:

@NotThreadSafe
public class Test {

  // For all practical purpuose the following block will be only executed once at class load time.
  static {
   System.out.println("Loaded by the classloader : " + Test.class.getClassLoader());
  }

  // Keeps track of created instances.
  static int instanceCount;


  // A simple constructor that increments instance count.
  public Test(){
   Test.instanceCount++;
   System.out.println("instance number : " + instanceCount);
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
   System.out.println("Instaintiating objects");
   new Test(); new Test();
  }

  // Where would you expect this line to get printed? 
  // i.e last statement on the console or somewhere in the middle :)
  static {
    System.out.println("It should be printed at the end or would it?");
   }
 }