You can reference a static variable via a reference to any instance of the class. : static « Modifiers « SCJP

1. SCJP
2. Modifiers
3. static

//(result in confusing code)

class MyClass {
  static int x = 0;

  MyClass() {
    x++;
  }
}

public class MainClass {
  public static void main(String[] argv) {
    MyClass e1 = new MyClass();
    MyClass e2 = new MyClass();
    e1.x = 100;
    e2.x = 200;

    System.out.println(e1.x);
  }
}

200




A better way to refer to a static variable is via the class name. 

class MyClass {
  static int x = 0;

  MyClass() {
    x++;
  }
}

public class MainClass {
  public static void main(String[] argv) {
    MyClass e1 = new MyClass();
    MyClass e2 = new MyClass();
    MyClass.x = 100; // Why did I do this?
    MyClass.x = 200;

    System.out.println(e1.x);
  }
}

200