Static Keyword in C: Purpose Explained

In C language, the role of the static keyword depends on its usage context.

1. When a local variable is declared as static within a function, it means that the variable will only be initialized once during the program’s runtime, rather than being re-initialized each time the function is called like regular local variables. This allows the variable to retain its value between function calls, and can be used to implement static variables within the function.
2. When using the keyword “static” before a global variable or function, it limits the scope to the current source file only, meaning that the variable or function can only be used within that file and cannot be accessed by other files. This helps prevent conflicts with global variables or functions of the same name in other files.

In general, the main purpose of the static keyword is to control the scope and lifespan of variables or functions.