Question: In Java, what is the effect of the static keyword when used in the context of a class variable?

A) It ensures that the variable is shared among all instances of the class, and it is initialized only once.
B) It allows the variable to be initialized multiple times, with each instance of the class having its own copy.
C) It restricts access to the variable to only the class in which it is declared, preventing access from subclasses.
D) It makes the variable available only within instance methods of the class, not in static methods.