Difference between static and non static methods in java

A static method belongs to the class and a non-static method belongs to an object of a class. Static methods are useful if you have only one instance where you're going to use the method, and you don't need multiple copies (objects). Non-static methods are used if you're going to use your method to create multiple copies.

Static example

 
public class TestClass {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    display(); //there is no object create here because display is a static method
  }
  public static void display(){
    System.out.println("Call from static method");
  }
}

Non-static example

 
public class TestClass {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    TestClass tc = new TestClass();
    tc.display(); //object create here because display is a non-static method
  }
  public void display(){
    System.out.println("Call from non-static method");
  }
}

A static method can however be called both on the class as well as an object of the class. A static method can access only static members. A non-static method can access both static and non-static members because at the time when the static method is called, the class might not be instantiated.

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