return

In short: return ends a method and optionally gives a value back to the caller.

In more detail: The return type stands before the method name. With void nothing is returned, and return; then just ends the method.

In Depth

static int square(int x) {
    return x * x;      // returns the value
}
int y = square(5);     // y = 25

Notes

• After return, no further code of the method is executed.
• All paths of a method with a return type must return a value.
• An early return (guard clause) makes code more readable because nested if blocks disappear.

See methods, void.

See also: Methoden, void, Getter