“Missing return statement” within if / for / while

Question

I have been using java for awhile now, there is a question bothering me. Whenever I use the return statement for a method in if(), while() or for() loop, I get an error " Missing return statement". I have already given a return statement but it is inside a statement or loop. Then why am I getting an error. Here, is a code as an example. public int example() { if(condition) { return value; } } Select the correct answer from above options

Answer 1

You are getting the error because a function must always return a value. Imagine what will happen if you execute example() and it does not go into “ if ” condition, what will your function return? Compiler needs to know what to return in every situation, hence it gives you the error. You can correct this by either putting an “ else “ condition with a return statement or by putting return statement towards the end of the function. public int example() { int result = -1; if(condition) { result = x; } return result; }