My question is about one particular usage of static keyword. It is possible to use static keyword to cover a code block within a class which does not belong to any function. For example following code compiles: public class Test { private static final int a; static { a = 5; doSomething(a); } private static int doSomething(int x) { return (x+5); } } If you remove the static keyword it complains because the variable a is final. However it is possible to remove both final and static keywords and make it compile. It is confusing for me in both ways. How am I supposed to have a code section that does not belong to any method? How is it possible to invoke it? In general, what is the purpose of this usage? Or better, where can I find documentation about this?