PHP: Static functions in a Class

Static functions can be used without instantiating the object.

A quick example of a static function is shown below as well as a comparison with a non static function.

A quick example of this (in PHP5):

class TestClass{
	static function staticFunction(){
		echo "static function called";
	}
 
	function nonStaticFunction(){
		echo "nonstatic function was called";
	}
}
 
TestClass::staticFunction(); //will echo static function called
 
$testClass = new TestClass();
$testClass.nonStaticFunction(); //will echo nonstatic function was called
unset($testClass);