A static array is a collection of elements, all of the same type, that is fixed in size when it is created. This means that once you define the number of elements in the array, you cannot change it later. Static arrays are commonly used in programming languages like C, C++, and Java to store data efficiently. Static arrays allow for quick access to elements using an index, which is a numerical position in the array. For example, in a static array of size 5, you can access the first element with index 0 and the last element with index 4. This predictable structure makes static arrays useful for tasks that require fast data retrieval.