Defining Classes I - Java - page 173

EXAMPLE
public int getDay()
{
return day;
}
void Method Definition
SYNTAX
public void Method_Name ( Parameter_List )
{
< List of statements >
}
If there are no Parameters, then the parentheses are empty.
EXAMPLE
public void writeOutput()
{
System.out.println(month + " " + day + ", " + year);
}
All method definitions are inside of some class definition. See Display 4.2 to see these
example method definitions in the context of a class.
When an instance variable name is used in a method definition, it refers to an instance
variable of the calling object.
return Statements
The definition of a method that returns a value must have one or more return state-
ments. A return statement specifies the value returned by the method and ends the
method invocation.
SYNTAX
return Expression ;
EXAMPLE
public int getYear()
{
return year;
}
A void method definition need not have a return statement. However, a return state-
ment can be used in a void method to cause the method to immediately end. The form for
a return statement in a void method is
return ;