What is the static variable in a function useful for?

A static variable in a function is useful for preserving the value of a variable between multiple function calls. Unlike regular local variables, which are re-initialized each time the function is called, static variables retain their value across function calls. This allows you to maintain state or count the number of times a function has been called. For example, you can use a static variable to keep track of the number of times a function has been executed or to cache a value that is expensive to compute. The static variable is declared using the static keyword within the function. It's important to note that static variables have function scope, so they are only accessible within the function where they are defined. They are not visible or accessible outside the function.