What is the need for static block?

Question

this was my interview question..
what is the scenario where u need a static block?

Answer 1

SO
public static String foo = "FOO";
and
static
public String foo="FOO";
both are static blocks?I don't know what the JLS says about that term. The second one is usually called a static initializer. I wouldn't consider the first one a block, but the JLS may say differently.
What is the difference between both?They're not quite the same.
public static String foo = "FOO";
// is equivalent to
public static String foo;
static {
  foo = Foo;
}Note that the variable must be declared outside the block to be a class member variable.
Now, consider the following, for which the static initializer block is necessary:
static ComplexThingummy ct;
static {
  try {
    ct = new ComplexThingrummy();
    ct.initializeSomethingSomehow();
  catch (CTCheckedException exc) {
    throw new ExceptionInInitializerError(exc);
    // OR
    ct = someDefaultPreInitializedComplexThingummy;
}