What is meant by 'static typing' in programming languages?

'Static typing' refers to a type system in which the type of a variable is determined at compile time. This means that the data type of each variable is known and fixed before the program runs, allowing the compiler to catch type errors during the compilation process. Static typing helps improve code safety, as rules regarding type usage can be enforced before execution, reducing the risk of runtime type errors.

In programming languages with static typing, variables must be declared with a specified type, and this type cannot change throughout the variable's lifetime. This provides advantages such as better optimization by the compiler and clearer code, as types are explicitly declared and understood.

This contrasts with other typing systems, such as dynamic typing, where types are determined at runtime, allowing more flexibility but potentially leading to type-related errors that might not be caught until the code is executed.