<code>private</code> methods that don't access instance data can be <code>static</code> to prevent any misunderstanding about the contract of the method.

== Noncompliant Code Example

----
class Utilities {
  private static String magicWord = "magic";

  private String getMagicWord() { // Noncompliant
    return magicWord;
  }

  private void setMagicWord(String value) { // Noncompliant
    magicWord = value;
  }

}
----

== Compliant Solution

----
class Utilities {
  private static String magicWord = "magic";

  private static String getMagicWord() {
    return magicWord;
  }

  private static void setMagicWord(String value) {
    magicWord = value;
  }

}
----

== Exceptions

When <code>java.io.Serializable</code> is implemented the following three methods are excluded by the rule:

* <code>private void writeObject(java.io.ObjectOutputStream out) throws IOException;</code>
* <code>private void readObject(java.io.ObjectInputStream in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException;</code>
* <code>private void readObjectNoData() throws ObjectStreamException;</code>
