#259 – Static vs. Instance Properties

A typical property declared in a class is an instance property, meaning that you have a copy of that property’s value for each instance of the class.

You can also define static properties, which are properties that have a single value for the entire class, regardless of the number of instances of the class that exist.

    public class Dog
    {
        // An instance property--one copy for each dog
        public string Name { get; set; }

        // A static property--one copy for all dogs
        public static string Creed { get; set; }
    }

You can read and write a static property even if no instances of the class exist.  You use the class’ name to reference a static property.

            // Writing an instance property  (Name)
            Dog kirby = new Dog();
            kirby.Name = "Kirby";

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

            // Write a static property
            Dog.Creed = "We are best friends to humans.";