The basic syntax of a method is\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n< access modifier > <\r\nreturn type > <method name > ( < parameter list > ) < exceptions > {\r\n \/\/method body code\r\n}<\/pre>\nCalling Method in Java<\/h3>\n
Method calling in Java implements a stack to maintain the order of execution. The control transfers back to the code that invoked it under the following conditions<\/p>\n
a.<\/strong> It executes all the code in the method.
\nb.<\/strong> it reaches a return statement within the code
\nc.<\/strong> It encounters an exception<\/p>\nJava program to illustrate the uses of methods in Java:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.dataflair.javamethod;\r\npublic class BasicMethod {\r\n public static void getminimum(int a, int b) {\r\n if (a < b) System.out.println(a + \" is the minimum of the two.\");\r\n else if (b < a) System.out.println(b + \" is the minimum of the two.\");\r\n else System.out.println(\"both the numbers are equal\");\r\n }\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n getminimum(5, 6);\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n5 is the minimum of the two.<\/div>\n
This program illustrates the use of a method to find out the minimum of the two arguments.<\/p>\n
Java Method stack<\/h3>\n
Method calls in Java use a stack to monitor the method calls in a program. The method call from anywhere in the program creates a stack frame in the stack area. The local variables get the values from the parameters in this stack frame. After the completion of the program, its particular stack frame is deleted. The stack pointer points to each method execution. However, whenever a new method is called, the current method execution stops, and the stack pointer points to the new method until it finishes execution.<\/p>\n
Java program to illustrate the method stack:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.dataflair.javamethod;\r\npublic class MethodStack {\r\n static void m1() {\r\n System.out.println(\"I am inside the m1 method and going to call the m2 method. \");\r\n m2();\r\n System.out.println(\"The control has returned to the m1 method. \");\r\n\r\n }\r\n static void m2() {\r\n System.out.println(\"I am inside the m2 method and going to call the m3 method\");\r\n m3();\r\n System.out.println(\"The control has returned to m2\");\r\n\r\n }\r\n static void m3() {\r\n System.out.println(\"I am inside the m3 method.\");\r\n }\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n m1();\r\n\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\nI am inside the m1 method and going to call the m2 method.
\nI am inside the m2 method and going to call the m3 method
\nI am inside the m3 method.
\nThe control has returned to m2
\nThe control has returned to the m1 method.<\/div>\n
Passing Methods by Value in Java<\/h3>\n
If you have experience of programming languages, you will know that arguments to a method get passed in two ways, namely, Pass by value and pass by reference. Since Java does not have the concept of pointers, it is safe to say that Java is a strictly pass-by-value language.
\nPassing the arguments by value should follow the same order as mentioned in the method definition.<\/p>\n
Java program to illustrate the use of pass by value:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.dataflair.javamethod;\r\npublic class PassByValueMethod {\r\n\r\n static void add(int num1, int num2) {\r\n System.out.println(\"The sum of the two numbers \" + anum1 + \" and \" + num2 + \" is \" + (num1 + num2));\r\n }\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n add(5, 9);\r\n\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\nThe sum of the two numbers 5 and 9 is 14<\/div>\n
Java Method Overloading<\/h3>\n
Overloaded methods are those methods that have the same name, but they differ in the type of arguments they have. These methods make the program readable. This enables the programmer to name several methods having the same names, which leads to less confusion. However, if each method needs to have a different definition, then only the arguments get changed and not the method name itself. You can easily define another method with the same name but with different arguments.<\/p>\n
Java program to illustrate the concept of Method Overloading:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.dataflair.javamethod;\r\npublic class OverloadMethod {\r\n\r\n static void add(int num1, int num2) {\r\n System.out.println(\"The compiler understood you wanted to add two numbers of type int\");\r\n System.out.println(\"The sum of the two numbers \" + num1 + \" and \" + num2 + \" is \" + (num1 + num2));\r\n }\r\n static void add(double num1, double num2) {\r\n System.out.println(\"The compiler understood you wanted to add two numbers of type double. \");\r\n System.out.println(\"The sum of the two numbers \" + num1 + \" and \" + num2 + \" is \" + (num1 + num2));\r\n }\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n add(5, 9);\r\n add(6.3, 8.2);\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\nThe compiler understood you wanted to add two numbers of type int
\nThe sum of the two numbers 5 and 9 is 14
\nThe compiler understood you wanted to add two numbers of type double.
\nThe sum of the two numbers 6.3 and 8.2 is 14.5<\/div>\n
CommandLine Argument in Java<\/h3>\n
In programming, certain information gets passed to a program while running it. These are the command-line arguments. They follow the program\u2019s name while it is being executed through the Command Line Interface.
\nThese arguments are accessible inside the program because Java interprets the arguments as strings.<\/p>\n
Java program to illustrate the use of command-line args in Java:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.datafalir.javamethod;\r\n\r\npublic class CommandLineArgs {\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {\r\n System.out.println(\"The argument number \" + i + \" is \" + args[i]);\r\n }\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nUpon executing the program in CLI like this:
\njavac CommandLineArgs.java
\njava CommandLineArgs Hey these are arguments!<\/p>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\nThe argument number 0 is Hey
\nThe argument number 1 is these
\nThe argument number 2 is are
\nThe argument number 3 is arguments<\/div>\n
Variable Arguments in Java<\/h3>\n
It is not always possible to know the number of arguments that a method may need during execution. This is where the variable arguments in Java come into play. Variable arguments are represented by three consecutive dots(…). The syntax is datatype\u2026 parameterName<\/p>\n
However, there are certain rules to declaring variable arguments in Java:<\/p>\n
\n- Only one var-length parameter should be present in a single definition.<\/li>\n
- This parameter must be the last, i.e, all the regular parameters must precede it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Java program to illustrate variable datatype in Java:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.dataflair.javamethod;\r\npublic class VarArgsMethod {\r\n\r\n static void printnum(int...numbers) {\r\n if (numbers.length == 0) System.out.println(\"There are no numbers\");\r\n else {\r\n System.out.println(\"The numbers are\");\r\n for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {\r\n System.out.println(numbers[i]);\r\n }\r\n }\r\n }\r\n\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n printnum(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 56, 67, 56, 5, 56, 5, 34, 63, 453, 52345);\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\nThe numbers are
\n1
\n2
\n3
\n4
\n5
\n21
\n56
\n67
\n56
\n5
\n56
\n5
\n34
\n63
\n453
\n52345<\/div>\n
Note that we did not specify any limit of numbers in the arguments of the function.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nChoosing the Right Literal Type in Java<\/h3>\n
Selecting the appropriate literal type for your data is crucial in Java programming. Using the most suitable literal type enhances code readability, maintainability, and efficiency. Here’s a quick reference to guide your decisions:<\/p>\n
\n- Integer literals are ideal for whole numbers without decimal points.<\/li>\n
- Floating-point literals are designed for numbers with decimal places.<\/li>\n
- Character literals represent single characters enclosed within single quotes.<\/li>\n
- String literals are used for sequences of characters, denoted by double quotes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Java finalize Method<\/h3>\n
Whenever the garbage collector in Java destroys an object, it calls the finalize method. Just before the object gets killed, the finalize method executes and performs all the functions necessary.<\/p>\n
For example, this method can close the file when handling files using Java.<\/p>\n
The syntax of the Java finalize method is:<\/strong><\/p>\nprotected void finalize() {\r\n \/\/Final functions before the garbage collector collects objects. \r\n}<\/pre>\nThe finalize method is of type \u201cprotected” to prevent access from outside the class. However, it is difficult to know whether the finalize method has actually worked or not. It is because the Java garbage collector may\/ may not collect the object during runtime unless the pressure in the memory is high.<\/p>\n
Java program to illustrate the use of the finalize method:<\/strong><\/p>\npackage com.dataflair.javamethod;\r\npublic class FinalizeMethod {\r\n\r\n public void objcheck() {\r\n System.out.println(\"The object is still alive. \");\r\n }\r\n protected void finalize() {\r\n System.out.println(\"Code to be executed before object collection by JVM \");\r\n }\r\n\r\n public static void main(String[] args) {\r\n FinalizeMethod ob = new FinalizeMethod();\r\n ob.objcheck();\r\n ob = null;\r\n System.gc();\r\n }\r\n\r\n}<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\nThe object is still alive.
\nCode to be executed before object collection by the JVM<\/div>\n
We purposely assigned the object to a null value and called the garbage collector to invoke the finalize method.<\/p>\n
Summary<\/h3>\n
We learned about methods in this article and how we can use them in our programs. Methods are essential to know in Java because Java code, once written, becomes reusable. Methods also segment and distribute the code effectively for easy documentation and understanding of the program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Imagine you have to wake up every day and perform a specific task. This task can be anything, be it brushing your teeth or playing with your dog. Consider you have to wake up...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":84336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[2276,3640,7485,7598,7601,7633,8659,11594,12933],"class_list":["post-7159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-java","tag-calling-java-method","tag-declaring-java-methods","tag-java-exception-list","tag-java-method-name","tag-java-method-signature","tag-java-parameter-list","tag-method-declaration-in-java","tag-return-type-in-java","tag-situation-of-calling-methods-in-java"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Methods](\"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/02\/Method-Declaration-in-Java.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n