A method, also known as a function, is a module of code that a programmer can create and then call on later on in the program. Many methods already exist in programming languages such as C# but the programmer also has the ability to make their own. A method will usually perform a single task. Many methods can work together to achieve a goal.
Methods should have descriptive names (they should represent an action and are usually in the form of a verb). Spaces cannot be used in method names and you should always avoid use of special characters eg. $%^!@. The method name itself should also not contain brackets because brackets are used for parameters. When you create a new method, the method name should be unique and not already exist in the language (it should not be a reserved word that is used for a statement or method).
Method names should follow a consistent naming convention throughout your code eg. using camel case or mixed case. Examples of suitable method names include CalculateScore, AddNumbers, MultiplyNumbers, GetUserDetails, etc.
Watch the video below and then scroll down for examples and sample code.
Creating methods
Lets break up the method into its different components and look at each component…
What is an access modifier?
Access modifiers include public and private (or just left empty). Public means other parts of the program can see and use this method. If we don’t want that we use private instead or no access modifier (leave it out).
What is a return type?
Methods are able to return a variable back to the code that called it known as the return type. If a method returns an integer value then the return type is an int and if a method returns a true or false value then the return type is a bool. Even if the method doesn’t return any value, it still has a return type. If the method doesn’t return a value, then its return type is void (which means nothing). You might notice that many functions have a return type of void.
What are parameters?
In the same way that methods can pass a variable back to the code that called it, the calling code can pass variables into the method. These variables are known as parameters. The variables that are passed into the method are identified in the parameter list part of the method (inside the brackets). When you specify a parameter you must specify the variable type and the name. If there are no parameters, then the brackets are left empty.
Below is an example of a method in C# for a calculator that is used to add two numbers together. There are two parameters in this method (separated by commas). The parameters in this method are num1 and num2. These are the two numbers that will be added together (they are of the float data type). Notice that the return type is also float meaning that the result of this method (the sum of num1 and num2) will be returned as a float value.
public static float AddNumbers(float num1, float num2)
{
float total = num1 + num2;
return total;
}
The method above will add two numbers together (the two parameters num1 and num2) and then return the answer as a float back to the part of the program that called the method.
The word static means that this particular method is associated with the class, not a specific instance (object) of that class. What this means is that you are able to call a static method without actually creating an object of the class.
Many methods have the word void in their declaration. The word void basically means that the method will not return any value to the part of the program that called it.
Using methods
Once you have created a method the next thing to do is use it. Using a method is known as calling or invoking a method. To call a method that was named AddNumbers, you would write:
AddNumbers();
If the method contained a parameter or multiple parameters (eg. the values 5 and 10), then they would be included inside the brackets like this:
AddNumbers(5,10);
The below example shows how to call a method and pass variables into the method. You do not need to write int inside the brackets where the function is called.
int number1 = 10; int number2 = 30 AddNumbers(number1,number2);
When you call a method you do not need to provide the variable type with the variable that is being passed into the method. If the method AddNumbers() in the example code above returns a value, then it should be stored in a variable or used in a statement, for example:
int result = AddNumbers(5,10);
Sample code
Here is an example using parameters and a return type of void. The AddNumbers method is called from inside the Main method.
using System;
namespace MyCSharpProject
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
AddNumbers(5, 10);
}
public static void AddNumbers(int num1, int num2)
{
int total = num1 + num2;
Console.WriteLine("The sum of the two numbers is " + total);
}
}
}
Here is an example using parameters and a return type of int. The AddNumbers method is called from inside the Main method.
using System;
namespace MyCSharpProject
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
int answer = AddNumbers(5, 10);
Console.WriteLine(answer);
}
public static int AddNumbers(int num1, int num2)
{
int total = num1 + num2;
return total;
}
}
}
Here is an example using no parameters. The AddNumbers method is called from inside the Main method.
using System;
namespace MyCSharpProject
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
int answer = AddNumbers();
Console.WriteLine(answer);
}
public static int AddNumbers()
{
int total = 5 + 10;
return total;
}
}
}
