What is a limitation of the `this` keyword in Java?

The this keyword in Java refers to the current instance of a class and is used primarily within instance methods and constructors to distinguish between instance variables and parameters or local variables. One of its key limitations is in the context of static methods.

In statically defined methods, there is no instance of the class being created, and thus, the this keyword does not apply. Static methods belong to the class itself rather than to any specific object instance, meaning they cannot access instance variables or methods unless they create an instance of the class. As a result, using this within static methods results in a compile-time error, as the context of the keyword cannot be resolved.

This distinction is vital in understanding object-oriented programming in Java, as it emphasizes the difference between class-level attributes and behaviors (represented by static methods) versus instance-level ones (represented by instance methods).