Combining Static and Non-Static Variables

Yes, you can have both static and non-static variables in the same class. They serve different purposes and interact in specific ways.

Static variables are shared across all instances of the class, while non-static variables are unique to each instance.

This means that each instance of the class will have its own copy of non-static variables, but there will be only one copy of each static variable, regardless of the number of instances.

Consider this example:

1#include <iostream>
2#include <string>
3
4class Vampire {
5 public:
6  int Health{100};
7  static inline std::string Faction{"Undead"};
8};
9
10int main() {
11  Vampire A;
12  Vampire B;
13
14  A.Health = 50;
15  B.Health = 200;
16
17  A.Faction = "Demonic";
18
19  std::cout << "A's Health: " << A.Health << "\n";       
20  std::cout << "B's Health: " << B.Health << "\n";       
21  std::cout << "Faction: " << Vampire::Faction;  
22}

1A's Health: 50
2B's Health: 200
3Faction: Demonic

In this example:

• Health is a non-static variable, so each Vampire instance (A and B) has its own Health.
• Faction is a static variable, so it is shared across all instances. Changing Faction through A also changes it for B.

When you have both static and non-static variables in a class:

• Non-static variables are accessed through instances of the class.
• Static variables can be accessed through instances or directly through the class itself using the scope resolution operator ::.

For example, you can access Faction directly using Vampire::Faction:

1#include <iostream>
2#include <string>
3
4class Vampire {
5 public:
6  int Health{100};
7  static inline std::string Faction{"Undead"};
8};
9
10int main() {
11  Vampire A;
12  Vampire B;
13
14  Vampire::Faction = "Demonic";
15  std::cout << "Faction: "
16    << Vampire::Faction << "\n";  
17
18  A.Health = 50;
19  B.Health = 200;
20  std::cout << "A's Health: " << A.Health << "\n";  
21  std::cout << "B's Health: " << B.Health << "\n";  
22}

1Faction: Demonic
2A's Health: 50
3B's Health: 200

Combining static and non-static variables allows you to maintain shared state and individual state within the same class.