What is the equivalent of Java static methods in Kotlin?

If you are an Android developer and you love to make Android applications in Java, then you must have used the static keyword in your application to make some static variables or static methods and so on. Static variables belong to a class and not to its instance. Same is with static methods also.

Now, in Android development, things are moving from Java to Kotlin and one of the biggest problems that the developers face while migrating from Java to Kotlin is making a static method because in Kotlin there is nothing as such static . Yes, you heard it right, Kotlin doesn't have a static keyword.

So, welcome to MindOrks, in this blog, we will find what is the equivalent of static methods in Kotlin. Let's get started.

Using a companion object

In Kotlin, we can achieve the functionality of a static method by using a companion identifier.

For example, If you want to create a method that will return the address of your company then it is good to make this method static because for every object you create, the address is going to be the same. So, create a method named getCompanyAddress inside a CompanyUtils class by using the companion identifier.

class CompanyUtils {
    companion object {
        fun getCompanyAddress(): String {
            return "MindOrks, G-773, GROUND FLOOR SUNCITY, SECTOR-54 GURUGRAM, HR"
        }
    }
}

After that, you can call the getCompanyAddress method with the name of the class wherever required:

val companyAddress = CompanyUtils.getCompanyAddress()

But if you want to call the same method in Java, then you have to add the companion keyword while calling the method:

String companyAddress = CompanyUtils.Companion.getCompanyAddress();

To get rid of the companion keyword while calling, you have to either give a name to your companion or you have to use @JvmStatic annotation.

Using the name for the companion

You can give a name to your companion object like below:

class CompanyUtils {
    companion object myCompanionName {
        fun getCompanyAddress(): String {
            return "MindOrks, G-773, GROUND FLOOR SUNCITY, SECTOR-54 GURUGRAM, HR"
        }
    }
}

Here, in the above example, myCompanionName is the name of the companion. You can call the method by companion name from the Java code:

String companyAddress = CompanyUtils.myCompanionName.getCompanyAddress();

Note: In Kotlin, you can still call the method just by the class name only i.e. CompanyUtils.getCompanyAddress() .

Using @JvmStatic annotation

If you don't want to give some name to your companion object, then you can use the @JvmStatic annotation with your method as below:

class CompanyUtils {
    companion object {
        @JvmStatic
        fun getCompanyAddress(): String {
            return "MindOrks, G-773, GROUND FLOOR SUNCITY, SECTOR-54 GURUGRAM, HR"
        }
    }
}

And then call the method from your Java class by the name of the Class of that method:

String companyAddress = CompanyUtils.getCompanyAddress();

Note: In Kotlin, you can still call the method just by the class name only i.e. CompanyUtils.getCompanyAddress() .

Using a package-level function

We can use the functionality of static methods in Kotlin by making that method a package-level method.

All you need to do is make a .kt file and put the desired methods and properties into it without making a class. So, create a file with:

Filename: CompanyUtils.kt

Package: com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample

Add the below method:

package com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample

fun getCompanyAddress(): String {
    return "MindOrks, G-773, GROUND FLOOR SUNCITY, SECTOR-54 GURUGRAM, HR"
}

During compilation, all the functions, properties inside the CompanyUtils.kt file which is inside the com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample package will be compiled into static methods of the Java class named com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample.CompanyUtilsKt i.e. after compilation, a Java class with CompanyUtilsKt name(note the addition of Kt word at the end of the class name) will be created and a public static method named getCompanyAddress will be created.

Now, in Kotlin, you can call the above method by importing the package and then directly calling it:

import com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample.getCompanyAddress

class DemoClass {
    fun someDemoMethod() {
        val companyAddress = getCompanyAddress()
    }
}

In Java, you can call the above methods by:

import com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample.CompanyUtilsKt;

public class DemoClass {
    public void someDemoMethod() {
        String companyAddress = CompanyUtilsKt.getCompanyAddress();
    }
}

If you want to change the name of the compiled class name, then you can use the @JvmName annotation:

@file:JvmName("NewName")
package com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample

fun getCompanyAddress(): String {
    return "MindOrks, G-773, GROUND FLOOR SUNCITY, SECTOR-54 GURUGRAM, HR"
}

Using object

You can use the functionality of static methods by putting the method inside the object block as below:

package com.mindorks.example.staticmethodexample

object CompanyUtils {
    fun getCompanyAddress(): String {
        return "MindOrks, G-773, GROUND FLOOR SUNCITY, SECTOR-54 GURUGRAM, HR"
    }
}

And then, call the above method from your Kotlin class by;

val companyAddress = CompanyUtils.getCompanyAddress()

What Next?

In this tutorial, we saw how to use the functionality of Java static methods in Kotlin also. Now, you can use this functionality in Kotlin and make some cool Android Projects as we have on our OpenSource page .

Have a look at our Interview Kit for company preparation.

Do share this tutorial with your fellow developers to spread the knowledge. You can read more blogs on Android on our blogging website .

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Happy Learning :)

Team MindOrks!

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