AP® Computer Science A glossary

Return statement

Also called: return

Course: AP® Computer Science A Shows up in: Unit 3: Class Creation

A statement that sends the flow of control back to the caller, and in a non-void method sends back a value compatible with the return type.

Appears in the course and exam description (CED): 3.5.A.33.5.A.4

In a non-void method the return expression is evaluated and its value is returned (return by value). A return inside a loop or an if exits the whole method, and a void method may use return; to leave early.

public class Finder
{
    public static int firstEven(int a, int b)
    {
        if (a % 2 == 0)
        {
            return a;    // the method ends here
        }
        return b;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println(firstEven(4, 7) + " " + firstEven(3, 8));
    }
}

Output:

4 8

Related terms

• Return type
• Method
• Accessor method