In Java, what is the effect of declaring a variable as "static"?

Declaring a variable as "static" in Java means that the variable belongs to the class itself rather than to any particular instance of the class. This indicates that there is only one copy of the variable shared across all instances of that class, which can save memory in certain situations and provide a way to maintain a common property or state across all objects.

When a variable is declared static, it can be accessed without creating an instance of the class. This is particularly useful for utility or constants that do not require specific instances of the class to function. For example, if you have a static variable holding a count of instances created from the class, it can be updated or retrieved easily irrespective of the instances.

The other aspects of static variables do not pertain directly to its core functionality as stated in the question context. While static variables can have accessibility restrictions based on their visibility (like private or public), the defining aspect of a static variable is that it is associated with the class itself, not with individual objects created from that class.