Calling

Call a method within the same class by using its name and parentheses, followed by a semicolon.

public class PrintAsterisks {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    printManyAsterisks(); // method call
    System.out.println("Finished");
  }

  public static void printManyAsterisks() {
    System.out.println("****************");
    System.out.println("********");
    System.out.println("***");
  }
}

Java executes code sequentially, or line-by-line. * When it reaches the printManyAsterisks call in main, it jumps into the body of the printManyAsterisks method. * The method will execute its statements until it reaches the end of the method body. * Then the code returns to main, and executes the line System.out.println("Finished");. * The program ends when main reaches the end of its method body.

Method Diagram

Practice Exercise¶

Another word for "call" is "invoke."

Drill¶

introtomethods/drills/CallingMethods.java * Run the CallingMethods class. Compare the output to the method calls within the code; follow the trail of method calls.

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