Question

Explain the programming steps necessary to make a class's member variable static.

Short answer

Answer: To make a class's member variable static, first declare the class and define its member variables. Then, add the keyword "static" before the data type of the member variable you want to make static. This will make the member variable's value shared among all instances of the class, rather than being specific to each object.

Step-by-step solution

Declaring a class

Begin by declaring a class. A class serves as a blueprint for creating objects in a program. The class consists of data members (also known as properties or attributes) and member functions (methods). The general structure of a class looks like this: ``` class ClassName { // Data members and member functions declaration } ```

Defining member variables

Next, define the member variables within the class. Member variables represent the properties or attributes of the objects created from the class and are used to store data. They are usually defined at the beginning of the class, before any member function declarations. ``` class ClassName { DataType memberVariable1; DataType memberVariable2; // Additional member variable declarations // Member function declarations } ```

Making a member variable static

To make a member variable static, add the keyword "static" before the data type of the member variable. This will make the member variable's value shared among all instances of the class, rather than being specific to each object. A static variable is also known as a class variable because it is essentially a property shared by the class as a whole, rather than being assigned to each object. ``` class ClassName { static DataType staticMemberVariable; DataType nonStaticMemberVariable; // Member function declarations } ``` By following these steps, you can declare a class, define its member variables, and make a member variable static. Keep in mind that the specific syntax may vary depending on the programming language being used.