return
can be used to return from any part of the method code.
class ReturnStatement
{
public static void main(String arg[])
{
boolean t = true;
System.out.println("Before the return"); // LINE A
if(t) return; // return to caller
System.out.println("This won't execute"); // LINE B
}
}
DESCRIPTIONAfter LINE A
is executed, the return
statement is called which will be prevent LINE B
from executing. That is why we see only Before the return in the output.
We can not call return
statement in the middle of method body with out having a if
condition. If there is no if
condition, return
will be always called, so LINE B
will never execute. The java compiler detects this scenario and shows a compilation error unreachable statement
. To prevent that error we put an if
condition, but ensured that it will be always true
.
THINGS TO TRY
- Change the value of variable
b
from true
to false
and see that both Before the return and This won't execute are printed since the return
is statement is not called.
- Replace the statement
if(t) return;
with return;
to see the compilation error unreachable statement