Error missing return statement java

The missing return statement is one of the most occurred errors in the Java program. The beginners usually face the missing return statement error. It is a compile-time error, it means that the error is raised when we compile program. The name of the error states the root cause of the error is that the return statement is missing in the program.

The Java missing return statement error mainly occurs due to human mistakes. It occurs when we use the return type before the method name and doesn’t use the return statement. In Java, there can be two possible cases:

1. Method missing the return statement.
2. Missing return statement error within if / while / for.

Let’s understand both the cases one by one.

Method missing the return statement

In this case, we will get the missing return statement when the method uses the return type but doesn’t return any value. Let’s take an example to understand the concept of missing return statement error in method.

MissingReturnStatementExample1.java

Output

How to resolve the error?

There are two ways through which we can solve the error.

1. By using void return type
2. By adding a return statement

Both of these two ways are helpful only when we get this error in the method.

By using void return type

In the above code, we have created the diff() method in which we have declared return type as int. In this method, we didn’t use the return statement, and due to which the diff() method throws the missing return statement. So, we will solve the problem by simply changing the return type to void without providing any return statement like as:

Let’s compile and run the above code.

By adding a return statement

Another way of resolving this error is simply adding the return statement to the method. We will return the difference of the numbers using the return keyword like:

The above program shows the following output.

Output:

Missing return statement error within if / while / for

The second case is quite different from the first case. In a method, when we use the return statement inside the if statement, or for loop or while loop but doesn’t use the return statement at the end of the method, it throws the missing return statement error.

Let’s take an example to understand it.

MissingReturnStatementExample2.java

Output

How to resolve the error?

In order to solve the missing return statement error, we simply need to add the return statement to the method just like to the one we did in case one. So, we will return the some value of the same type which we used before the name like as:

Let’s compile and run the above program.

Output:

Missing return statement in java

In Java, missing return statement is a common error which occurs if either we forget to add return statement or use in the wrong scenario.

In this article, we will see the different scenarios when missing return statement can occur.

Missing return statement

Here are the few scenarios where we can get Missing return statement error.

Scenario 1

Let’s take an example, where we have a method that returns absolute value of the given positive number. In this example, we computed the absolute value but forgot to return it. When we compile this code, the compiler reports an error. See the example and output.

Solution

We can solve it by using two ways, either add return statement in the code or set return type as void in the method signature. See the examples below, wherein the first example we have added the return statement. We have also added another method getAbsolute2() and returned void from it in case we don’t want to return anything from the method.

Scenario 2

This error can also occur if we have used a return statement in if block. This return statement will execute only when if block executes. Since return statement depends on the if block condition, compiler reports an error. We have to either put return statement in else block or to the end of the method to resolve this.

Note: A method that has return type in its signature must have return statement.

Solution

If return statement is inside any block like if , for etc. then we need to add an extra return either in else block or in the last line of method body to avoid missing return type error. See the example and output.

That’s all about Missing return statement in java.

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Java Hungry

Java developers tutorials and coding.

[Solved] Missing return statement in java error

The missing return statement in java error is mostly faced by beginners. You can familiarize yourself with these kinds of common errors by coding simple java projects. Let’s understand the error first. This error occurs at compile-time. The root cause of the error as the name suggests when the return statement is missing in the program.

[Fixed] Missing return statement in java error

1. Method missing the return statement

I am using the HelloWorld java program as an example. If you compile the above code using below command

you will get the missing return statement error. There are two ways to fix it.

1.1 In printHelloWorld() method we have declared return type as String. But if you notice there is no return statement inside the printHelloWorld() method. Just add that as shown below.

Now compile and run your program using commands below

Yahoo!! your problem is resolved.

1.2 The above situation can also be solved by changing the return type to void without providing any return statement.

Now compile and run your program using below commands

Yahoo!! your problem is resolved.

2. Missing return statement error within if / while / for

If you declare return statement inside if / while / for but not at the end of the method containing them, then you will get missing return statement error as shown below.

If you compile the above code then you will get missing return statement error.

Fix it by adding the return statement for the method similar to the one we did in case 1 above i.e adding line return «Alive is Awesome»;

There is a special case, what happens when you provide return statements inside both if/else block, as shown below. What will be the output?

The above code will compile fine and you will get the following output:

That’s all for today. Please mention in comments in case you have any questions related to missing return statement in java error.

Источник

The missing return statement in java error is mostly faced by beginners. You can familiarize yourself with these kinds of common errors by coding simple java projects. Let’s understand the error first. This error occurs at compile-time. The root cause of the error as the name suggests when the return statement is missing in the program.

Read Also: Fix illegal start of expression error in java

[Fixed] Missing return statement in java error

1. Method missing the return statement

public class HelloWorld 
{ 
   public static String printHelloWorld() {  
     System.out.println("HelloWorld from JavaHungry!");
   }
 
   public static void main(String args[]) {
     printHelloWorld();
   }
}

I am using the HelloWorld java program as an example. If you compile the above code using below command

javac HelloWorld.java

you will get the missing return statement error. There are two ways to fix it.

1.1 In printHelloWorld() method we have declared return type as String. But if you notice there is no return statement inside the printHelloWorld() method. Just add that as shown below.

public static String printHelloWorld() {
    System.out.println("HelloWorld from JavaHungry!"); 
    return "Alive is Awesome";      
}

Now compile and run your program using commands below

javac HelloWorld.java 

java HelloWorld

Yahoo!! your problem is resolved.

HelloWorld from JavaHungry!

1.2 The above situation can also be solved by changing the return type to void without providing any return statement.

public static void printHelloWorld() {
    System.out.println("HelloWorld from JavaHungry!"); 
}

Now compile and run your program using below commands

javac HelloWorld.java 

java HelloWorld

Yahoo!! your problem is resolved.

HelloWorld from JavaHungry!

2.  Missing return statement error within if / while / for

If you declare return statement inside if / while / for but not at the end of the method containing them, then you will get missing return statement error as shown below.

/**
 * Java program to demonstrate 
 * Missing return statement in java error
 * inside if / while / for
 * @author Subham Mittal
 */ 
public class HelloWorld 
{
    public static String printHelloWorld() {
        int i = 0; 
        if (i == 0) {
            return "inside if block";
        }
        for ( i=0; i < 9 ;i++) { 
            return "inside for loop";
        }
        while (i < 9) { 
            return "inside while loop"; 
        } 
        //Missing return statement for method    
     }
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        printHelloWorld();
    }
} 

If you compile the above code then you will get missing return statement error.

Fix it by adding the return statement for the method similar to the one we did in case 1 above i.e adding line return «Alive is Awesome»; 

Note: Assuming the return type of method is not void. You must provide the return statement for the method, which should be the last statement in the method.

There is a special case, what happens when you provide return statements inside both if/else block, as shown below. What will be the output?

public class HelloWorld 
{
    public static String printHelloWorld() {
        int i = 0; 
        if (i == 0) {
            return "inside if block";
        }
        else { 
            return "inside else block"; 
        } 
    }
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        printHelloWorld(); 
        System.out.println("HelloWorld from JavaHungry!");          
    }
}

The above code will compile fine and you will get the following output:

HelloWorld from JavaHungry!

That’s all for today. Please mention in comments in case you have any questions related to missing return statement in java error.