Calling Methods In Main // Java

Question

Hello awesome coders!

I've got a question. I'm going through the Java methods module and have noticed that they always declare a new variable and assign it to the desired method in main. Why's that? Is that good programming practice and why? Here's an example:

class Program {

public static void main(String[ ] args) {
int res = max(7, 42);
System.out.println(res); //Why not System.out.println(max(7,42))? We don't need to declare a new variable (res in this case)?
}

static int max(int a, int b) {
if(a > b) {
return a;
}
else {
return b;
}
}

}

Answer 1

I'll explain it with parts of your code..

If you would work with variables in your max function it would look like this

int res = max(x,y);

If you write

System.out.println(max(x,y)); // This will be the line if an exception occurs. independent from where it got thrown (the println or the max function)

If you write
int res = max(x,y); // This line will be in the stacktrace if an exception is thrown here
System.out.println(res); // This line will be in the stacktrace if an exception is thrown by the output

Answer 2

@AKC

Thanks for your reply! Please can you expand a little, perhaps with an example?

Answer 3

Thanks @AKC!

Answer 4

I think it can make it more clear where an exception occurs if you write it like that