Where are static functions and data located in object-oriented programming?

In object-oriented programming, static functions (methods) and static data (fields) belong to the class itself, not to individual objects. In Java, they are declared using the static keyword and are stored in a memory area associated with the class, not with instances.

Example:

class Example {
    static int staticCounter = 0; // static field

    static void staticMethod() {  // static method
        System.out.println("Static method called");
    }
}

Static members are accessible without creating an object of the class.