getInstance

`getInstance` is a commonly used static method in object-oriented programming that returns a single instance of a class. This method ensures that only one instance of the class is created and it provides a global point of access to that instance.

For example, in the Singleton design pattern, `getInstance` is used to create a single instance of a class and to provide access to that instance throughout the application.

Here's an example implementation of the `getInstance` method:

public class Singleton {
  private static Singleton instance = null;
  
  private Singleton() {
    // private constructor to prevent instantiation outside of class
  }
  
  public static Singleton getInstance() {
    if (instance == null) {
      instance = new Singleton();
    }
    return instance;
  }
}

In this example, the `Singleton` class has a private constructor to prevent instantiation outside of the class. The `getInstance` method checks whether an instance of the class already exists and creates one if it does not. It then returns the existing or newly created instance.