How to: Define Static Constructors in a Class or Struct
A CLR type, such as a class or struct, can have a static constructor, which can be used to initialize static data members. A static constructor will be called at most once, and will be called before the first time a static member of the type is accessed.
An instance constructor will always run after a static constructor.
The compiler cannot inline a call to a constructor if the class has a static constructor. The compiler cannot inline a call to any member function if the class is a value type, has a static constructor, and does not have an instance constructor. The common language runtime may inline the call, but the compiler cannot.
A static constructor should be defined as a private member function, as the static constructor is only meant to be called by the common language runtime.
For more information on static constructors, see How to: Define an Interface Static Constructor .
Example
// mcppv2_ref_class6.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;
ref class MyClass {
private:
static int i = 0;
static MyClass() {
Console::WriteLine("in static constructor");
i = 9;
}
public:
static void Test() {
i++;
Console::WriteLine(i);
}
};
int main() {
MyClass::Test();
MyClass::Test();
}
in static constructor 10 11