A Java method is a collection of statements that are combined together to perform an action. For example when System.out.println() method is called, the system actually executes several statements in order to display a message on the console.

·        A method is a group of code, which only runs when it is called.

·        You can pass data, known as parameters, into the method.

·        Methods are used to perform certain operations, and they are known as functions.

·        Why use methods? To reuse code: define the code once, and use it many times.

Now we will learn how to create our own methods with or without return values, invoke a method with or without parameters, and apply method abstraction in the program design.

Method definition consists of a method header and a method body. The same is shown in the following syntax −

Syntax

modifier returnType method-name (Parameter List) {
   // method body
}

• modifier − It defines the access type of the method and it is optional to use.

• returnType − Method may return a value.

• method-name − This is the method name. The method signature consists of the method name and the parameter list.

• Parameter List − The list of parameters, it is the type, order, and number of parameters of a method. These are optional, method may contain zero parameters.

• method body − The method body defines what the method does with the statements.

Creating Method

Considering the following example to explain the syntax of a method −

Syntax

public static int methodName(float x, float y) {
   // method body
}

Here,

• public static − modifier

• float − return type

• methodName − name of the method

• x, y − formal parameters

• float x,  float y − list of parameters