Method Definition

Method definitions look like this:

returnType methodName( parameterList )
{
  // Java statements

  return returnValue;
}

The returnType is the type of value that the method hands back to the caller of the method. Methods in classes you define can return values just as do methods from library classes. The return statement is used to hand back a value to the caller.

If you want a method that does something, but does not return a value to the caller, use a return type of void and do not use a return value with the return statement. The return statement can be omitted; the method will automatically return to the caller after it executes. Here is the method from the example program:

  // method definition
  void speak()
  {
    System.out.println("Hello from an object!");
  }