what is difference between declaring variable out of main method and inside main method?

Question

When I was reading book about Java , I saw one example written like this. And I am wondering can I declare variable in outside of main method ? What is difference between declar

Answer 1

1) Inside vs Outside:

If you declare your object inside a method, it will be visible only in this method. Basically, if you put brackets around it, it's only visible/accessible from within these brackets.

If you declare your object outside the method (inside the class), it depends on the access modifier.
By default, it's visible/accessible from within that class and the whole package.

2) Static

Static means, that this Object/Variable belongs to the class itself, and not to its objects.

Example:

public class Members {

  static int memberCount;

  public Members() {
     memberCount++;
  }
}

memberCount exists only once, no matter how many Objects of the class exists. (even before any object is created!)

Every time you create a new Object of Members, memberCount is increased. Now you can access it like this: Members.memberCount