can class be static?

[Maxwell Wood]

i have this question

static class A {
void process() throws Exception { throw new Exception(); }
}
static class B extends A {
void process() { System.out.println("B"); }
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
new B().process();
}

Options :
A. B
B. runs but no output
rest of the options are Compilations Errors

Answer is A
i have no problem with the answer
but this code raised a few questions for me
can classes be static??? according to the code yes but when and under what conditions???
and how am i supposed to use new with something that is static???

[Matthew Brown]

It looks like there's something missing from the question.

A normal class can't be static. What would that mean? Something that is static belongs to the class, not an instance, but that distinction is irrelevant for a normal class.

A nested class (or inner class) is different. They can be static. But in that case the classes would be defined within another class.

I think the giveaway here is the main method. That also needs to belong to a class, but in the code given it doesn't. So either compilation would completely fail, or all this is defined within a class that is not shown.

[Prady Kural]

Hey,
Maxwell It seems that you have not taken out the whole questions
well
iff it is whole then it would not compile
inner classes can be static for further study refer chapter 8 from k&b
regards

[Maxwell Wood]

yeah ... something is not right with the question... but i found it in a few sources exactly the way i wrote it and with the same output
it's also on this site in another thread https://coderanch.com/t/267905/java-programmer-SCJP/certification/four-scenarios
i have even tried it on NetBeans and it would NOT compile

so far i have realized this : i can have static class which is an inner class
but my problem is with the idea of using static member + new
would someone please explain that point?

[Leon Omk]

class Sample{

static class A {
    void process() throws Exception { throw new Exception(); }
}
static class B extends A {
    void process() { System.out.println("B"); }
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
    new B().process();
}

}

If class B is not static:

class Sample{

static class A {
    void process() throws Exception { throw new Exception(); }
}
class B extends A {
    void process() { System.out.println("B"); }
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
    new Sample().new B().process(); //a little different
}

}