Difference between Static methods and local methods in C#

In C#, the concept of "static methods" or "local methods" refers to concepts related to methods and scoping in C#. Let me explain the differences between these two concepts:

1. Local Methods:

1. Local methods are methods defined within another method in C#. They are scoped to the containing method and can only be called from within that method.
2. Local methods can access the variables and parameters of the containing method, which can be useful for encapsulating complex logic.
3. Local methods are typically used to promote code modularity and readability by breaking down a larger method into smaller, more manageable parts.

Example of local method:

 public void OuterMethod()
   {
       int x = 10;

       void LocalMethod()
       {
           Console.WriteLine(x); // Can access variables from the containing method.
       }

       LocalMethod(); // Calling the local method.
   }

2. Static Methods:

1. Static methods are defined within a class and are not tied to a specific instance of the class. They are called on the class itself rather than on an instance.
2. Static methods cannot access instance-specific data or non-static members of a class unless those members are also declared as static.
3. Static methods are often used for utility functions, calculations, or operations that do not depend on the state of an instance.

Example of static method:

public class MathUtils
   {
       public static int Add(int a, int b)
       {
           return a + b;
       }
   }

   // Calling the static method:
   int result = MathUtils.Add(5, 7);

   

In summary, local methods are methods defined within another method's scope and are used for encapsulating logic within that method, while static methods are methods defined within a class and are called on the class itself, typically for utility functions or operations that do not depend on instance-specific data. The two concepts are quite different in their usage and scope.