Returning multiple values from a method.

Hi there!!

Just wanted to ask please if this is applicable to return multiple values from a method in java as it is in php's functions for instance.

Thanks in advance!!

Atar.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atar

Hi there!!

Just wanted to ask please if this is applicable to return multiple values from a method in java as it is in php's functions for instance.

Thanks in advance!!

Atar.

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How would you do this in php? As far as I know, and unless the php docs are out of date, you cannot
PHP: Returning values - Manual

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A function can not return multiple values

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In java you could effectively do this just as you would in php - by wrapping the values in something else, for instance an array, a Collection, or wrap the values within a particular object.

Please elaborate...

What are you trying to do? I'm sure there is a way, I just don't know what you're asking.

@copeg

Thank you about your quick response!!

Can you post here a little example about how to do so with arrays, collections that you spoke about?

Your help is appreciated!!

Atar.

What copeg said is something like this.Imagine that you want to return 5 values,e.g. 0,1,2,3,4 then you would write something like this

Code :

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static void f(int[] a)
    {
        for(int i=0 ; i<a.length ; i++)
            a[i]=i;
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int []a = new int[5];
        f(a);
    }

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If you do not understand something ask :D

@Samaras

All right, but how should I return those multiple values? There's not any reference to that in your code.

Now array a holds these values.So you have access to them via array a.Try writing in main after f(a)

Code :

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for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
            System.out.println(a[i]);

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This should output 0,1,2,3,4.So you have access in these values that were created inside function f.Isn't that what you wanted,or i understood wrongly? :/

@Samaras: that's not necessarily returning a value, you're simply modifying one. I know it's common practice in C, but there are a few caveats with this method.

The first is you can't actually change what array you have, so the array you're passed is the array you have to modify.

For example:

Code java:

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public static void main(String[] args)
{
    int[] a = new int[5];
    doIt(a);
    for(int i = 0; i < a.length; ++i)
    {
        System.out.println(a[i]);
    }
}
 
public static void doIt(int[] var)
{
    var = new int[5];
    for(int i = 0; i < var.length; ++i)
    {
        var[i] = 3;
    }
}

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When you run this code, you'll notice that the program prints out five 0's, not five 3's.

The better method is to instantiate and return said array:

Code java:

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public static void main(String[] args)
{
    int[] a = doIt();
    for(int i = 0; i < a.length; ++i)
    {
        System.out.println(a[i]);
    }
}
 
public static int[] doIt()
{
    var = new int[5];
    for(int i = 0; i < var.length; ++i)
    {
        var[i] = 3;
    }
    return var;
}

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Note that this code still only returns one value: it's returning an array. However, an array is composed of multiple elements, which can be extracted.

Now if you have to return a bunch of values who's type do not correlate, the best practice is to create a class which holds all of the necessary components. For example, take the following class:

Code java:

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public class Customer
{
    public String name;
    public int id;
    public double pay;
}

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Using a similar method as above, you can create and instantiate a Customer object and return it. Again, technically you're only returning one value: a customer object. However, inside that object there is a name, id, and pay fields.

Ok if you return the array or pass it as an argument does not make much difference at this point i would say.

However the example you gave me shocked me a bit.If i comment this line var = new int[5]; ,then the output will be 3's and no 0's.If i uncomment it the output is going to be as you said.WHY?

Quote:

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if you return the array or pass it as an argument does not make much difference

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What if the called method wants to set the size of the array it returns?

.I run it and i will say that if passed as an argument the size won't change.If it is been returned the size is going to change.WHY?
In java i have been told that the arguments are passed as a reference..Is that true?And somehow is this link to this somehow?
Remember i am a BEGINNER² :D

Quote:

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If it is been returned the size is going to change.

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There might not be an array passed to the method. It all depends on what the method is supposed to do.
I would change that to say the size of the returned array would be set by the called method.

Args are passed by value.

ok i agree,but my question was not answered yet i think :/

Start your own thread if you have questions. This one was started by atar.

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Originally Posted by Norm

Start your own thread if you have questions. This one was started by atar.

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You are tottaly right!