How to return 2 values from a Java method?

Question

I am trying to return 2 values from a Java method but I get these errors. Here is my code:

// Method code
public static int something(){
    int number1 = 1;
    int number2 = 2;

    return number1, number2;
}

// Main method code
public static void main(String[] args) {
    something();
    System.out.println(number1 + number2);
}

Error:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.RuntimeException: Uncompilable source code - missing return statement
    at assignment.Main.something(Main.java:86)
    at assignment.Main.main(Main.java:53)

Java Result: 1

Answer 1

You don't need to create your own class to return two different values. Just use a HashMap like this:

private HashMap<Toy, GameLevel> getToyAndLevelOfSpatial(Spatial spatial)
{
    Toy toyWithSpatial = firstValue;
    GameLevel levelToyFound = secondValue;

    HashMap<Toy,GameLevel> hm=new HashMap<>();
    hm.put(toyWithSpatial, levelToyFound);
    return hm;
}

private void findStuff()
{
    HashMap<Toy, GameLevel> hm = getToyAndLevelOfSpatial(spatial);
    Toy firstValue = hm.keySet().iterator().next();
    GameLevel secondValue = hm.get(firstValue);
}

You even have the benefit of type safety.

Answer 2

Return an Array Of Objects

private static Object[] f () 
{ 
     double x =1.0;  
     int y= 2 ;
     return new Object[]{Double.valueOf(x),Integer.valueOf(y)};  
}

Answer 3

I'm curious as to why nobody has come up with the more elegant callback solution. So instead of using a return type you use a handler passed into the method as an argument. The example below has the two contrasting approaches. I know which of the two is more elegant to me. :-)

public class DiceExample {

    public interface Pair<T1, T2> {
        T1 getLeft();

        T2 getRight();
    }

    private Pair<Integer, Integer> rollDiceWithReturnType() {

        double dice1 = (Math.random() * 6);
        double dice2 = (Math.random() * 6);

        return new Pair<Integer, Integer>() {
            @Override
            public Integer getLeft() {
                return (int) Math.ceil(dice1);
            }

            @Override
            public Integer getRight() {
                return (int) Math.ceil(dice2);
            }
        };
    }

    @FunctionalInterface
    public interface ResultHandler {
        void handleDice(int ceil, int ceil2);
    }

    private void rollDiceWithResultHandler(ResultHandler resultHandler) {
        double dice1 = (Math.random() * 6);
        double dice2 = (Math.random() * 6);

        resultHandler.handleDice((int) Math.ceil(dice1), (int) Math.ceil(dice2));
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        DiceExample object = new DiceExample();


        Pair<Integer, Integer> result = object.rollDiceWithReturnType();
        System.out.println("Dice 1: " + result.getLeft());
        System.out.println("Dice 2: " + result.getRight());

        object.rollDiceWithResultHandler((dice1, dice2) -> {
            System.out.println("Dice 1: " + dice1);
            System.out.println("Dice 2: " + dice2);
        });
    }
}

Answer 4

Instead of returning an array that contains the two values or using a generic Pair class, consider creating a class that represents the result that you want to return, and return an instance of that class. Give the class a meaningful name. The benefits of this approach over using an array are type safety and it will make your program much easier to understand.

Note: A generic Pair class, as proposed in some of the other answers here, also gives you type safety, but doesn't convey what the result represents.

Example (which doesn't use really meaningful names):

final class MyResult {
    private final int first;
    private final int second;

    public MyResult(int first, int second) {
        this.first = first;
        this.second = second;
    }

    public int getFirst() {
        return first;
    }

    public int getSecond() {
        return second;
    }
}

// ...

public static MyResult something() {
    int number1 = 1;
    int number2 = 2;

    return new MyResult(number1, number2);
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
    MyResult result = something();
    System.out.println(result.getFirst() + result.getSecond());
}

Answer 5

In my opinion the best is to create a new class which constructor is the function you need, e.g.:

public class pairReturn{
        //name your parameters:
        public int sth1;
        public double sth2;
        public pairReturn(int param){
            //place the code of your function, e.g.:
            sth1=param*5;
            sth2=param*10;
        }
    }

Then simply use the constructor as you would use the function:

pairReturn pR = new pairReturn(15);

and you can use pR.sth1, pR.sth2 as "2 results of the function"

Answer 6

You can only return one value in Java, so the neatest way is like this:

return new Pair<Integer>(number1, number2);

Here's an updated version of your code:

public class Scratch
{
    // Function code
    public static Pair<Integer> something() {
        int number1 = 1;
        int number2 = 2;
        return new Pair<Integer>(number1, number2);
    }

    // Main class code
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pair<Integer> pair = something();
        System.out.println(pair.first() + pair.second());
    }
}

class Pair<T> {
    private final T m_first;
    private final T m_second;

    public Pair(T first, T second) {
        m_first = first;
        m_second = second;
    }

    public T first() {
        return m_first;
    }

    public T second() {
        return m_second;
    }
}