Thread: Why I can't return two variables in one method?

I would like to know why I can't return two variables in one method. I can pass only one variable.

Eg;

protected int getData(){
System.out.print("Enter num1");
Scanner scan=new Scanner(System.in);
int num1=scan.nextInt();

System.out.print("Enter num2");
int num2=scan.nextInt();

return num1,num2;

}

It's just the way Java is.

Typically when you want to return multiple values they are part of some structure - like the x- and y-coordinates of a point - that is handled by returning an instance of a class. If you really want you can return an array of ints.

When you call the method, how would it know what to return?

int myNumber = getData();

What is myNumber? num1 or num2? It can't be both. How would it decide which one to use. Futhermore, once a variable is returned by a method it's flow of control stops and returns to where it came from so if this was possible there would be no way of knowing when it to stop executing.

It is possible of course, as pbrockway2 said you can create a class that holds two integers and return an instance of the object.

Originally Posted by netlync

I would like to know why I can't return two variables in one method. I can pass only one variable.

Eg;

protected int getData(){
System.out.print("Enter num1");
Scanner scan=new Scanner(System.in);
int num1=scan.nextInt();

System.out.print("Enter num2");
int num2=scan.nextInt();

return num1,num2;

}

From what I have heard, usually when you want to return more then one variable it is a hint that you need to rethink how you are doing things. I dont know if that is true or not personally, since I have not used any language that supports it (python kind of supports it and I have used that language).