Can static methods access instance variables in a class?

Static methods in a class belong to the class itself rather than to any particular instance of the class. As a result, they do not have direct access to instance variables, which are tied to individual objects created from the class. Instance variables can only be accessed through an instance of the class (an object).

When you attempt to reference an instance variable from within a static method, it leads to a compilation error because the static context does not have information about instance-specific data. This design choice in object-oriented programming ensures that static methods remain independent of instance-specific state, thus promoting clarity and reducing potential errors related to instances.

The other options suggest scenarios or conditions under which static methods might access instance variables, which is not possible in any situation, as static methods are fundamentally designed to operate without needing object-specific data.