In Java, a class method is a method that is associated with a class and not with an instance of the class. Class methods can be used to perform operations on class variables or to return a value.
In this blog, we will explore Java class methods in detail, including how to declare and use them, and provide example code snippets to illustrate each concept.
Declaring a Java Class Method:
To declare a Java class method, you need to use the static keyword before the method name. This tells Java that the method is associated with the class and not an instance of the class. Here is an example:
public class ExampleClass { static void exampleMethod() { System.out.println("Hello, World!"); } }
In the above example, we declare a class method called exampleMethod. The method is associated with the ExampleClass and not with an instance of the class.
Calling a Java Class Method:
To call a Java class method, you can use the class name followed by the method name, like this:
ExampleClass.exampleMethod();
In the above example, we call the exampleMethod using the ExampleClass name.
Passing Arguments to a Java Class Method:
You can also pass arguments to a Java class method, just like you would with a regular method. Here is an example:
public class ExampleClass { static void exampleMethod(String name) { System.out.println("Hello, " + name + "!"); } }
In the above example, we declare a class method called exampleMethod that takes a String argument called name.
To call this method with an argument, we can do the following:
ExampleClass.exampleMethod("John");
In the above example, we call the exampleMethod with the argument “John”.
Returning a Value from a Java Class Method:
You can also return a value from a Java class method. Here is an example:
public class ExampleClass { static int sum(int num1, int num2) { int result = num1 + num2; return result; } }
In the above example, we declare a class method called sum that takes two integer arguments and returns their sum.
To call this method and get the returned value, we can do the following:
int total = ExampleClass.sum(5, 7); System.out.println(total);
In the above example, we call the sum method with arguments 5 and 7, and assign the returned value to the variable total. We then print the total value, which is 12.
Conclusion:
Java class methods are an essential part of Java programming. They allow you to perform operations on class variables or to return a value. With the examples provided, you can get started with Java class methods and take your programming skills to the next level.