#256 – Using Static Fields

Let’s say that we have both instance and static fields defined in a class:

        public string Name;

        public static string Creed;

This allows us read and write the Name property for each instance of the Dog class that we create.

            Dog kirby = new Dog();
            kirby.Name = "Kirby";

            Dog jack = new Dog();
            jack.Name = "Jack";

Notice that each instance of a Dog has its own copy of the Name field, since Name is an instance field.

We can also read/write the static Creed field, using the class name to qualify the field, rather than an instance variable.

            Dog.Creed = "Man's best friend";

There is only one copy of the Creed field, since Creed is a static field.