Most helper or utility classes use static methods. You should only use non-static methods if you want to create multiple instances of your helper class, but since you just need a simple input -> function -> output, I would make the methods static.
Full Answer
Should I use static or non-static methods in helper classes?
Most helper or utility classes use static methods. You should only use non-static methods if you want to create multiple instances of your helper class, but since you just need a simple input -> function -> output, I would make the methods static.
Should I have helper methods in the same class?
The trouble with having helper methods at the point of use ( read 'same class' ) is that someone down the line may just choose to post their own unrelated helper methods in the same place Show activity on this post. The advantage of private static methods is that they can be reused later if you need to reinitialize the class variable.
What is the use of static modifier in a class?
Then "static" modifier may give you ideas about refactoring besides other things that others may find unuseful. E.g. moving the method to some Utility class or converting it to a member method..
Should helper class have static methods?
Most helper or utility classes use static methods. You should only use non-static methods if you want to create multiple instances of your helper class, but since you just need a simple input -> function -> output, I would make the methods static.
Should all private methods be static?
private or public doesn't make a difference - static methods are OK, but if you find you're using them all the time (and of course instance methods that don't access any instance fields are basically static methods for this purpose), then you probably need to rethink the design.
Are helper classes an Antipattern?
asawyer pointed out a few links in the comments to that question: Helper classes is an anti-pattern. While those links go into detail how helperclasses collide with the well known principles of oop some things are still unclear to me. For example "Do not repeat yourself".
Why do we use helper classes?
In object-oriented programming, a helper class is used to assist in providing some functionality, which isn't the main goal of the application or class in which it is used. An instance of a helper class is called a helper object (for example, in the delegation pattern).
Why is static method bad?
Static methods are bad for testability. Since static methods belong to the class and not a particular instance, mocking them becomes difficult and dangerous. Overriding a static method is not that simple for some languages.
Is static bad practice?
Static variables are generally considered bad because they represent global state and are therefore much more difficult to reason about. In particular, they break the assumptions of object-oriented programming.
When would you use a static helper class?
When you want to share code between unrelated classes. Static helpers are often created when otherwise unrelated classes need to share common logic.
Are static methods an Antipattern?
On the other hand, static state, or static methods with associated static state, are utterly evil. That is an anti-pattern. It frequently helps to define a method as being non-stateful (and therefore a legitimate static method) if, and only if, it always returns equivalent output on equivalent inputs.
How do you write a helper class?
How to create your own helper class in Java?Provides common methods which are required by multiple classes in the project.Helper methods are generally public and static so that these can be invoked independently.Each methods of a helper class should work independent of other methods of same class.
Is a helper class a code smell?
I.e. a helper class may turn into a Large Class, which is one of the common code smells.
What are helper classes in CSS?
CSS helper classes, otherwise known as utility classes, are a CSS methodology that allows us to write less repetitive, modular code. This is done by creating a set of abstract classes that are responsible for doing one thing and one thing only.
What are helper methods?
A helper method is a term used to describe some method that is reused often by other methods or parts of a program. Helper methods are typically not too complex and help shorten code for frequently used minor tasks. Using helper methods can also help to reduce error in code by having the logic in one place.
Should static variables be private?
The non-static class variables belong to instances and the static variable belongs to class. Just like an instance variables can be private or public, static variables can also be private or public.
What is the point of private static?
"private" is an access specifier. It tells you that the member is only visible inside the class - other classes can't access the private members of a class. "static" means that the variable is a class-level variable; there's only one variable, which is shared by all instances of the class.
Can static classes be private?
A static class is a class that is created inside a class, is called a static nested class in Java. It cannot access non-static data members and methods. It can be accessed by outer class name. It can access static data members of the outer class, including private.
Why should a method be static?
Static methods are usually preferred when: All instance methods should share a specific piece of code (although you could still have an instance method for that). You want to call method without having to create an instance of that class. You must make sure that the utility class is never changed.