Can someone explain what the "return -1" and what the "return finalScore" does to this code? Thanks!

Question

public static void main(String [] args) {
boolean game over = true;
int score = 80;
int levelCompleted = 5;
int bonus = 3;
calculateScore(gameOver, score, levelCompleted, bonus);
score = 10;
levelCompleted = 8;
bonus = 2;
calculateScore(gameOver, score, levelCompleted, bonus);
}
public static int calculateScore(boolean gameOver, int score, in levelCompleted, int bonus) {
if (gameOver) {
int finalScore = score + (levelCompleted * bonus);
System.out.println(finalScore);
return finalScore ;
}
return -1;
}
}

Answer 1

note: error on line 4, extra space between level and completed: "level completed"

return is what you will receive when calling the function. So when you say: calculateScore(....); The value of calculate score (since the function has an int return type) is -1 if the game is not over. If the game is over, it is the final score.

Try: System.out.println(calculateScore(..)); to see what I mean. (fill the parameters accordingly).

Note* Since this function is supposed to calculate the score it would make more sense to return the current score instead of returning -1. Or rename it to finalScore() or something like that. (so -1 means game isnt over).
I suggest you review return types of functions.