Method

A method is a function that is a member of a class and may operate on an object.

Related concepts:  FunctionMemberClassObject

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Method (computer programming) — A method in object-oriented programming (OOP) is a procedure associated with an object, and generally also a message. An object consists of state data and behavior; these compose an interface, which specifies how the object may be used. A method is a behavior of an object parametrized by a user.

Misconceptions about Method

49 documented Misconceptions

AddMemberAtRuntime

Set of class members can change at runtime

ArrayHasLengthMethod

To get the length of an array, one needs to call its length method

BaseCaseNotNeeded

Recursive computations do not necessarily need a base case

BaseCaseSelfRecursive

The base case of a structural recursion consists of a recursive self-call

CallNotStaticallyChecked

A method invocation on a reference of a type that does not have that method won't compile

CallOnPrimitive

One can invoke a method on primitive values

CallRequiresVariable

One needs a variable to invoke a method

CallWithoutFrame

A method invocation does not necessarily allocate a stack frame

CallerFrameContainsCalleeFormal

Stack frame of caller includes variables for callee's formal parameters

CannotChainMemberAccesses

Member accesses cannot be chained together

CannotChainMemberToConstructor

Method calls or field accesses cannot be chained to a constructor invocation

ChainedMethodsNotCalledFromOutside

Chained methods are all called on the object at the beginning of the chain

ConcreteClassMustOverride

A concrete class needs to implement all methods declared in its abstract superclasses

ConcreteClassOnlyImplementClassAbstract

A concrete class only needs to implement those abstract methods it inherits from abstract superclasses

ConcreteClassOnlyImplementDirectAbstract

A concrete class only needs to implement abstract methods declared in its direct supertypes

ConcreteClassOnlyImplementInterfaceAbstract

A concrete class only needs to implement those abstract methods it inherits from interfaces

DeferredReturn

A return statement in the middle of a method doesn't return immediately

EqualsComparesReferences

o.equals(p) compares the references stored in the variables o and p

ImmutableRequiresFinalParameters

Immutable classes need final constructor/method parameters

ImplicitInterfaceImplementation

Java implicitly produces implementations of any methods a class inherits from the interfaces it implements

InterproceduralEdge

In an intra-procedural control-flow graph, method call nodes point to the called method

MethodAsField

Each object contains its own special fields for all of its methods

MethodWithoutReturnType

A method declaration does not need to include a return type

MethodsWithoutClass

Methods can be defined outside a class

NoCallOnStringLiteral

One cannot invoke methods on String literals

NoInsideMethodCallInConstructor

It is foirbidden to call other methods on the same object while inside its constructor

NoMethodInheritance

Subclasses inherit fields but not methods

NoStringToString

One cannot invoke toString() on a String

OutsideInMethodNesting

Nested method calls are invoked outside in

ParenthesesOnlyIfArgument

() are optional for method calls without arguments

PrivateAccessibleInSubclass

Private members of a superclass are accessible from a subclass

RecursiveMethodImpliesRecursiveType

A class with a recursive method represents part of a recursive data structure

RecursiveMethodNeedsIfElse

A recursive method needs to contain an if-else statement

ReturnCall

Return statements need () around the return value

RightToLeftChaining

Chained accesses are invoked from right to left

SetterIsStatic

Setter methods are static

StackTraceIsCallHistory

A stack trace is the sequence of previously called methods

StaticCallPolymorphic

A static method call is dispatched polymorphically at runtime based on the argument types

StaticDispatch

The method to be called is determined by the static type

StaticFrameInGlobals

Stack frame of static method calls lives in the global memory area

StringLengthField

One can know the length of a String object by accessing its length field

ThisChildInCallExpression

Instance method or constructor call nodes in expression trees have a child labeled "this"

ThisExistsInStaticMethod

this is a local variable, also in static methods

ToStringPrints

Invoking toString() prints something

UseOfSelfTypeImpliesRecursiveType

If a class has a method that has a local variable, parameter, or return value with the class as its type, the class is a recursive type

VoidMethodNotRecursive

A method with void return type can't be recursive

VoidMethodReturnsValue

A method with void return type can return a value