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Java Java Objects (Retired) Harnessing the Power of Objects Methods and Constants

SirBralin Robertson
SirBralin Robertson
625 Points
Posted by SirBralin Robertson
SirBralin Robertson
625 Points

Voiding the load()?

Why would we void the return value load? I understand that void means to not return a value. I just don't get why would I use it in this instance seen below:

public void load() { mPezCount = MAX_PEZ; }

4 Answers

jcorum
jcorum
71,830 Points
jcorum
jcorum
71,830 Points

The function you gave:

public void load() { 
    mPezCount = MAX_PEZ; 
}

has void for its return type, as you indicate, because it doesn't return anything, i.e., there is no return statement in the body of the function.

What the function does is set the value of the instance variable mPezCount to the value of MAX_PEZ. But initializing a variable is not returning anything.

Compare this (made-up) function:

public boolean load() { 
    mPezCount = MAX_PEZ; 
    return true;
}

Here the return type is boolean because the function returns true.

jcorum
jcorum
71,830 Points
jcorum
jcorum
71,830 Points

You are welcome. Hope it helped.

SirBralin Robertson
SirBralin Robertson
625 Points
SirBralin Robertson
SirBralin Robertson
625 Points

Yes, it did. Also, I just sat for a minute to think about the concept of the object (Pez Dispenser).