Methods in Java

A Java method is a collection of statements that are grouped together to perform an operation. When you call the System.out.println method, for example, the system actually executes several statements in order to display a message on the console.

Now you will learn how to create your own methods with or without return values, invoke a method with or without parameters, overload methods using the same names, and apply method abstraction in the program design.

Creating a Method:

In general, a method has the following syntax:

modifier returnValueType methodName(list of parameters) {
  // Method body;
}

A method definition consists of a method header and a method body. Here are all the parts of a method:

• Modifiers: The modifier, which is optional, tells the compiler how to call the method. This defines the access type of the method.
• Return Type: A method may return a value. The returnValueType is the data type of the value the method returns. Some methods perform the desired operations without returning a value. In this case, the returnValueType is the keyword void.
• Method Name: This is the actual name of the method. The method name and the parameter list together constitute the method signature.
• Parameters: A parameter is like a placeholder. When a method is invoked, you pass a value to the parameter. This value is referred to as actual parameter or argument. The parameter list refers to the type, order, and number of the parameters of a method. Parameters are optional; that is, a method may contain no parameters.
• Method Body: The method body contains a collection of statements that define what the method does.

Note: In certain other languages, methods are referred to as procedures and functions. A method with a nonvoid return value type is called a function; a method with a void return value type is called a procedure.

Example:

Here is the source code of the above defined method called max(). This method takes two parameters num1 and num2 and returns the maximum between the two:

/** Return the max between two numbers */
public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
   int result;
   if (num1 > num2)
      result = num1;
   else
      result = num2;

   return result; 
}

int larger = max(30, 40);

System.out.println("Welcome to Java!");

public class TestMax {
   /** Main method */
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      int i = 5;
      int j = 2;
      int k = max(i, j);
      System.out.println("The maximum between " + i +
                    " and " + j + " is " + k);
   }

   /** Return the max between two numbers */
   public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
      int result;
      if (num1 > num2)
         result = num1;
      else
         result = num2;

      return result; 
   }
}

public class TestVoidMethod {

   public static void main(String[] args) {
      printGrade(78.5);
   }

   public static void printGrade(double score) {
      if (score >= 90.0) {
         System.out.println('A');
      }
      else if (score >= 80.0) {
         System.out.println('B');
      }
      else if (score >= 70.0) {
         System.out.println('C');
      }
      else if (score >= 60.0) {
         System.out.println('D');
      }
      else {
         System.out.println('F');
      }
   }
}

public static void nPrintln(String message, int n) {
  for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
    System.out.println(message);
}

public class TestPassByValue {

   public static void main(String[] args) {
      int num1 = 1;
      int num2 = 2;

      System.out.println("Before swap method, num1 is " +
                          num1 + " and num2 is " + num2);

      // Invoke the swap method
      swap(num1, num2);
      System.out.println("After swap method, num1 is " +
                         num1 + " and num2 is " + num2);
   }
   /** Method to swap two variables */
   public static void swap(int n1, int n2) {
      System.out.println("\tInside the swap method");
      System.out.println("\t\tBefore swapping n1 is " + n1
                           + " n2 is " + n2);
      // Swap n1 with n2
      int temp = n1;
      n1 = n2;
      n2 = temp;

      System.out.println("\t\tAfter swapping n1 is " + n1
                           + " n2 is " + n2);
   }
}

public static double max(double num1, double num2) {
  if (num1 > num2)
    return num1;
  else
    return num2;
}