The difference between a `global variable` and a `field`?

Question

Fields are variables within a class or struct, local variables sit within a method and global variables are accessible in every scope (class and method included).

This makes me think that fields might be global variables but that global variables are not necessarily fields although I cannot think of a variable sitting outside of a class.

Is there a clear difference between the two?

Answer 1

You tagged this C# and C# does not really have 'global variables'.

But a public static field (or property) would come close. The static makes it singular and gives it a 'global' lifetime.

Answer 2

I think Wikipedia's definition is appropriate here:

In object-oriented programming, field (also called data member or member variable) is the data encapsulated within a class or object. In the case of a regular field (also called instance variable), for each instance of the object there is an instance variable: for example, an Employee class has a Name field and there is one distinct name per employee. A static field (also called class variable) is one variable, which is shared by all instances.

So a global variable is pretty much a static field (and therefore, a field).