title: When to use static classes in PHP?
body: <blockquote>
    <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
    <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1185605/when-to-use-static-vs-instantiated-classes">When to use static vs instantiated classes</a>  </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  
  
  <p>I'm having a little trouble understanding the advantages/disadvantages of static vs "normal" classes in PHP, since it seems that I'm able to do the same thing with both.</p>
  
  <p>If I'm able to have static variables in classes and get/modify them easily with static methods, why do I even need class instances?</p>