In Java, the static keyword is used to indicate that a particular member (variable or method) belongs to the class itself rather than to any specific instance of the class. Here are some key points about the static keyword:

1. Class-Level Variables: Static variables (also known as class variables) are shared among all instances of the class. They are declared using the static keyword and are initialized once, at the time the class is loaded.
2. Class Methods: Static methods can be called without creating an instance of the class. They are also declared using the static keyword and can only directly access other static members of the class.
3. Memory Efficiency: Since static variables are shared, they use less memory compared to instance variables, which are created for each object.
4. Utility Functions: Static methods are often used for utility or helper functions that perform a task related to the class but do not require access to instance-specific data.

Here’s a simple example:

java

<code>public class MathSolution {
    public static final double PI = 3.14159; // Static variable

    public static double calculateArea(double radius) {
        return PI * radius * radius; // Static method
    }
}
</code>

In this example, PI is a static variable, and calculateArea is a static method. You can call MathSolution.calculateArea(5) without creating an instance of MathSolution.