Some methods only perform actions and do not return any useful results. I will call such methods procedures.
The return-type of a procedure should be void. For example,
static void printHeading()
{
System.out.printf("Here is the input.\n");
}
defines procedure printHeading, with no parameters.
Notice that, because the return-type is void, there
is no return statement. The procedure returns
when it reaches the end of the body.
If you want to include an explicit return in a procedure, write
return;No result is indicated because a procedure does not have a result.
Use a procedure in a statement. For example,
printHeading();performs the body of printHeading.
Many people call a procedure a void method. I prefer not to use that term because the method is not in any sense void. Outer space is (almost) void. You can write void across a check to render it not usable. A procedure simply does not return an answer.