Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Methods are functions defined within a class that perform specific tasks or actions when called upon by an object. They can manipulate data, interact with other objects, or return values.
Parameters are variables used in method declarations to receive input values when the method is called. They allow methods to accept and work with different data.
The return type of a method specifies the type of value that the method will return after its execution. It can be void (no return value) or any other data type.
Method overloading is a feature that allows multiple methods within a class to have the same name but different parameters, enabling flexibility and code reusability.