📌 Method
A method is a small program or a block of code written
inside a class. It performs a specific task when it is
called.
📌 Types of Methods
In Java, there are two types of methods:
1. Pre-defined Methods: These are already created
in Java and can be used directly.
Examples: [Link](), [Link]()
2. User-defined Methods: These are written by the
programmer to perform a particular task.
📌 Need for User-Defined Methods
They help in breaking big programs into
smaller, manageable parts.
Make the program easier to write, read, and
understand.
The same method can be used in a program many
times without rewriting the same code.
It makes the program shorter and neater.
📌 Parts of a User-Defined Method
Every user-defined method has three main parts:
1. Method Declaration
2. Method Calling
3. Method Definition
📌 1️⃣ Method Declaration
It tells the compiler about the name of the method,
what type of value it will return, and the
parameters (if any) it will receive.
Syntax:
Java returnType methodName (parameter list);
Example:
java
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int sum (int a, int b);
Explanation:
int is the return type (this method will return an
integer).
sum is the method’s name.
(int a, int b) is the list of parameters the method
will take when called.
📌 2️⃣ Method Calling
A method can be called (used) by writing its name
followed by round brackets (parentheses) containing
the required arguments.
Syntax:
java
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methodName (arguments);
Example:
java
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sum(5, 10);
📌 3️⃣ Method Definition
It is the part where the actual code or statements of
the method are written.
This part tells what the method will do when it is
called.
Syntax:
java
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returnType methodName (parameter list)
{
statements;
return value;
}
Example:
java
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int sum (int a, int b)
{
int c = a + b;
return c;
}
📌 Types of User-Defined Methods
User-defined methods are classified based on:
Whether they take arguments or not.
Whether they return a value or not.
There are four types:
Type Description Example
1. With Takes values as
int sum(int
arguments and arguments and gives
a, int b)
with return value back a value.
2. With
Takes values as void
arguments and
arguments but does display(int
without return
not give back a value. a)
value
3. Without
Takes no arguments int
arguments and
but gives back a value. getValue()
with return value
4. Without
Neither takes
arguments and void
arguments nor gives
without return show()
back a value.
value
📌 Return Type
The return type tells what kind of value a method will
give back after it is executed.
It can be:
int for integers
double for decimal numbers
char for characters
void if no value is returned
📌 Void Keyword
If a method does not return any value, we write void in
place of the return type.
Example:
java
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void display()
{
[Link]("Hello");
}
📌 Actual and Formal Parameters
When a method takes values while being called, those
values are called actual parameters (also known as
arguments).
When a method receives values inside its definition,
those values are called formal parameters (also
known as parameters).
Type Explanation Example
Actual Values passed at the time of sum(5, 10) →
Parameter method calling. 5, 10
Variables that receive the
Formal int sum(int a,
values inside the method
Parameter int b) → a, b
definition.
📌 Calling a Method
A method can be called in two ways:
If it belongs to the same class: Directly write the
method name with arguments.
If it belongs to another class: Create an object of
that class and then call the method using
[Link](arguments);
📌 Method Overloading
Method overloading means creating two or more
methods with the same name but different
parameter lists (the number, type, or order of
parameters must be different).
Example:
java
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void display(int a)
void display(double a)
void display(String a)
Purpose of Method Overloading:
It improves program readability.
It allows the use of the same method name for
different types of tasks.