Methods in Java

What are Methods in Java?

Methods in Java are **blocks of code** that perform a specific task. They help in code reusability and make the program more modular.

Types of Methods

There are two types of methods in Java:

Predefined Methods (Built-in methods like Math.sqrt(), System.out.println())
User-defined Methods (Created by the programmer for specific tasks)

Defining a Method

A method is defined using the following syntax:

returnType methodName(parameters) {
    // Method body
    return value;
}

Example of a Simple Method

public class MethodExample {
    public static void greet() {
        System.out.println("Hello, Welcome to Java Methods!");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        greet(); // Calling the method
    }
}

Method with Parameters

Methods can accept parameters to process values.

public class ParameterExample {
    public static void greet(String name) {
        System.out.println("Hello, " + name + "!");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        greet("Mahendra"); // Output: Hello, Mahendra!
    }
}

Method with Return Value

A method can return a value using the return statement.

public class ReturnExample {
    public static int add(int a, int b) {
        return a + b;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int sum = add(5, 10);
        System.out.println("Sum: " + sum);
    }
}

Method Overloading

Java allows multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. This is called **method overloading**.

public class OverloadingExample {
    public static int add(int a, int b) {
        return a + b;
    }

    public static double add(double a, double b) {
        return a + b;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(add(5, 10));       // Calls int version
        System.out.println(add(5.5, 10.5));   // Calls double version
    }
}

Static vs Non-Static Methods

Static Method

Belongs to the class and can be called without creating an object.

public class StaticMethodExample {
    public static void display() {
        System.out.println("This is a static method.");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        display(); // Direct call without an object
    }
}

Non-Static Method

Requires an object to be called.

public class NonStaticMethodExample {
    public void show() {
        System.out.println("This is a non-static method.");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        NonStaticMethodExample obj = new NonStaticMethodExample();
        obj.show(); // Called using an object
    }
}

Conclusion

Methods in Java are essential for writing clean, reusable, and maintainable code. They allow us to divide a program into smaller parts for better readability.

📌 Next Topic: Constructors in Java

What are Methods in Java