CODEWITHSUNDEEP
java
Saravanan
Saravanan

Reputation: 11592

What does return mean at the end of a void method?

I know that a void method does not return any value, but I can still write code like 

void nothingDohere() {return;}

So, How can "void" work with the "return" statement here?

Upvotes: 12

Views: 8132

Answers (7)

asd
asd

Reputation: 1

When you return from a function, you return the control to the function calling the returning function. If you return a value, the calling function will get that value, else the calling function will only get the control.

Upvotes: 0

Eng.Fouad
Eng.Fouad

Reputation: 117569

Simply, it returns from inside the void method to the position where the program called that method:

public calss Test
{
    private boolean flag = true;
    public Test()
    {
        ...  // (1)
        ...  // (2)
        voidMethod();  // (3)
        ...  // (7)
        ...  // (8)
    }
    private void voidMethod()
    {
        ...  // (4)
        ...  // (5)
        if(flag) return;  // (6)
        ...
        ...
    }
}

Upvotes: 0

fgysin
fgysin

Reputation: 11913

In the case mentioned by you the return is indeed semantically superfluous (it is though needed syntactically - Javac won't compile without this return). The return terminates the method.

However in some cases it is wished to have multiple exit poins in a method, e.g. like this:

public void doDifferentThings(){
    if(){
        //something done
        return;
    }
    else{
        //something else done
        return;
    }
}

Some consider this bad design (contradicts single-point-of-exit), however it can keep your code cleaner.

Upvotes: 0

Buhake Sindi
Buhake Sindi

Reputation: 89169

The return statement can be also used to cause execution to go back to the caller of this method. Thus, the return statement will immediately terminate the method in which it is executed.

Therefore, your sample code:

void nothingDohere() {
    return ;
}

Terminates the method call and returns back immediately to the caller of the method.

Upvotes: 0

Jon Skeet
Jon Skeet

Reputation: 1499760

A return statement without a value can only be used in a void method (or a constructor), and simply performs the "get out of the method now" part of returning. Think of a return-with-value statement has having two purposes:

  • Terminating execution of the current method (via finally blocks of course)
  • Making a value computed in the method available to the caller

The return statement in a void method simply achieves the first of these; the second makes no sense in a void method.

From section 14.17 of the Java Language Specification:

A return statement with no Expression must be contained in the body of a method that is declared, using the keyword void, not to return any value (§8.4), or in the body of a constructor (§8.8). A compile-time error occurs if a return statement appears within an instance initializer or a static initializer (§8.7). A return statement with no Expression attempts to transfer control to the invoker of the method or constructor that contains it. To be precise, a return statement with no Expression always completes abruptly, the reason being a return with no value.

Upvotes: 13

Shahzeb
Shahzeb

Reputation: 4785

At any point in a Method when return statement is executed it simple exits out of the method.So return here is just ending the execution of you method here.
If you do try to something (some value) from a void method e.g
return"xzy";
You will get complition error
Void methods cannot return a value

Upvotes: 1

loganfsmyth
loganfsmyth

Reputation: 161447

Your return statement has no argument, so it is not returning anything, hence the returned value is 'void'.

Upvotes: 5

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