How do the scope and data storage differ for local variables and variables belonging to an object?

Local variables in Java are declared inside methods, constructors, or blocks and exist only during the execution of that block of code. Their scope is limited to that block, and they are stored in the call stack. After exiting the block, the local variable is destroyed.

Variables belonging to an object (class fields) are declared inside the class but outside of methods. They exist as long as the object lives and are stored in the heap. The scope of such variables is the entire class, and they can be accessed from any method of that class (considering access modifiers).

Example:

class Example {
    int field; // object variable

    void method() {
        int localVar = 10; // local variable
        System.out.println(localVar);
    }
}