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Introducing Methods

Introducing Methods. Corresponds with Chapter 5. What is a Method?. Method declaration: Signature Modifier(s) e.g. public or private, static Return type e.g. void, int, boolean, etc. OR a class type. OR no type (if a constructor) Identifier Formal Parameter List Enclosed in parentheses

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Introducing Methods

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  1. Introducing Methods Corresponds with Chapter 5

  2. What is a Method? • Method declaration: • Signature • Modifier(s) • e.g. public or private, static • Return type • e.g. void, int, boolean, etc. OR a class type. OR no type (if a constructor) • Identifier • Formal Parameter List • Enclosed in parentheses • types and identifiers (like variable declaration) • Separated by commas • Method Body • requires return statement if return type is not void. A method is a collection of statements that are grouped together to perform an operation. • Method call • Specify the identifier • Place actual parameters (arguments) in parentheses • Actual data (literal, constant, variable, or expression) • Use return value (if not void)

  3. Introducing Methods(Example 5.1) calling a method method

  4. Pass actual parameters (arguments) method call identifier specify identifier use return value return type formal parameters modifier method body return statement Anatomy of Method Declaration and Call method declaraion

  5. 1) invoke the method 5) Return value assigned into k. 2) Pass by value: a num1 is a copy ofi, num2 is a copy of j. 4) Return value sent back to calling statement. Processing Sequence of a Method Call method call 3) Function body executes. method declaration

  6. nPrintln(“Hello there”, 100); nPrintln(100, “Hello there”); Parameter Order and Type Assocation void nPrintln (String message, int n) { for (int i=0; i<n; i++) System.out.println(message); } IMPORTANT: the order and data type of actual parameters in a method call MUST match the order and data type of formal parameters in the method signature. Otherwise you will get a syntax error. OK Not OK

  7. Frame Stack • The Java Virtual Machine keeps manages the local variables and parameters of method in a Frame Stack (also referred to as Call Stack or Program Stack). • Frame = a data structure that holds the values of all the local variables and formal parameters of a method. • Stack = a last-in, first-out data structure. Items are pushed onto the top of the stack. Items are popped off the top of the stack. • When a method is called, its frame (local variables and parameters) are pushed onto the top of the stack. • When a method terminates, its frame is removed from the stack.  the formal parameters and local variables of a method exist ONLY AS LONG AS THE METHOD IS EXECUTING.

  8. Memory Changes During Processing(Listing 5.1, p132)

  9. args main’s frame 5 i k j Memory Changes During Processing(Listing 5.1) In main(), before calling max() 2 Frame Stack

  10. 5 2 num1 num2 result args main’s frame max’s frame 5 i k j Memory Changes During Processing(Listing 5.1) In max(), just started 2 Frame Stack

  11. 2 5 result num1 num2 args main’s frame max’s frame 5 i k j Memory Changes During Processing(Listing 5.1) In max(), before it terminates 5 2 Frame Stack

  12. args main’s frame 5 5 i k j Memory Changes During Processing(Listing 5.1) Back in main(), after max() returns NOTE: the value returned from max() was assigned into the variable k. 2 Frame Stack

  13. Debugger • You can view the contents of the frame stack in the debugger. • The Java JDK includes a program for debugging applications (called jdb.exe, in the bin subdirectory). • NetBeans provides a GUI interface to the debugger. NOTE: You will be learning how to use the debugger in future assignments!

  14. Stopped at this statement (breakpoint) main’s frame on the frame stack Local data in main method

  15. Stopped at this statement (breakpoint) max’s frame pushed on top of main’s frame Local data in max method

  16. Stopped at this statement (breakpoint) max’s return value was assigned to variable k max’s frame was popped off of the frame stack

  17. Scope • A variable’s scope is its visibility. • Which statements can refer to the variable’s identifier. • Local variables and formal parameters have method scope. They can only be used inside the method for which they are declared. • Variables declared inside blocks have block scope. They can be used only inside the block for which they are declared. • Variables declared in the parentheses of a control structure can only be used within the control structure for which they are declared. • You can declare multiple variables of the same name as long as they are not in the same nesting structure. • You cannot declare variables of the same name within the same nesting structure.

  18. Variables i, j, and k, and parameter args are in main’s scope. Note: max cannot refer to any of main’s variables or parameters...otherwise you’ll get a syntax error.

  19. Variable result, and parameters num1 and num2 are in max’s scope. main cannot refer to these identifiers.

  20. Another Scope Example • The following example shows variables with: • Method scope (available throughout an entire method) • Block scope (available only within a block of code) • Loop scope (available only within a loop)

  21. Method scope for method1 Note: the identifiers x and y are not available to the main method.

  22. Method scope for method2

  23. i is available within this loop. z is available within the block

  24. i is available within this loop. z is available within the block

  25. Identical variable names for different variables. OK because different blocks, not one nested in the other

  26. Identical variable names for different variables. NOT OK because the loop block is nested inside the method. This will cause a syntax error. y

  27. Method Overloading • Overloading = declaring multiple methods of the same name, but with different formal parameter lists. • When you call an overloaded method, the compiler knows which version you are calling based on the types of actual parameters you pass.

  28. Method Overloading(Listing 5.4)

  29. args main’s frame Frame Stack

  30. 3 4 num1 num2 args main’s frame max’s Frame (int) Frame Stack

  31. args main’s frame Frame Stack

  32. 3.0 5.4 num1 num2 args main’s frame max’s Frame (Double) Frame Stack

  33. args main’s frame Frame Stack

  34. 3.0 5.4 10.14 num1 num2 num3 args main’s frame Note: here the result returned from a method is the actual parameter of another method call. max’s Frame (Double, 3 params) Frame Stack

  35. 3.0 5.4 10.14 3.0 5.4 num1 num2 num3 num1 num2 args main’s frame max’s Frame (Double) max’s Frame (Double, 3 params) Frame Stack

  36. 3.0 5.4 10.14 num1 num2 num3 args main’s frame max’s Frame (Double, 3 params) 5.4 Frame Stack

  37. 3.0 5.4 10.14 5.4 10.14 num1 num2 num3 num1 num2 args main’s frame max’s Frame (Double) max’s Frame (Double, 3 params) Frame Stack

  38. 3.0 5.4 10.14 num1 num2 num3 args main’s frame max’s Frame (Double, 3 params) Frame Stack 10.14

  39. args main’s frame Frame Stack

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