// methods // some typical patterns I've seen...helps show what's possible: public class methods { public static void main(String[] args) { printRand(); myPrint1(1); printSometimes(-2); printSometimes(2); myPrint1(twiceValue(2) + 3); myPrint1(myRandom(10,1)); int x = 100, y = 200; myPrint1(myAdd(x,y)); myPrint1(x); myPrint1(y); /* sample output: A random number: 0.0474547160725467 MyPrint1: 1 A ha! x is ok: 2 MyPrint1: 7 MyPrint1: 0 MyPrint1: 600 MyPrint1: 100 MyPrint1: 200 */ } // void, no formal param public static void printRand() { System.out.println("A random number: "+Math.random()); } // void, 1 formal param (many more parameters are possible) // performs action on an input public static void myPrint1(int x) { System.out.println("MyPrint1: "+x); } // void, return early if necessary public static void printSometimes(int x) { if (x < 0) return; System.out.println("A ha! x is ok: "+x); } // simple return of a value public static int twiceValue(int x) { return 2*x; } // void, return a value public static int myRandom(int low, int high) { int tmp; if (high >= low ) tmp = (int)( (Math.random()*(high-low+1)) + low); else tmp = 0; return tmp; } // many input public static int myAdd(int x, int y) { x = x*2; y = y*2; return x+y; } }