What is main method in Java
What is main method in Java
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The main method in Java is the entry point of a Java program. It's the first method that gets executed when you run your Java program. The name "main" is also the default class that contains this method, so it's often referred to as Main
.
In Java, the main
method has two specific characteristics:
main
method without creating an instance of its containing class. It returns void: The main
method doesn't return any value; it simply starts executing your program.
Here's a simple example of what the main
method might look like:
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Your code here...
}
}
In this example, Main
is the name of the class that contains the main
method. The main
method takes an array of String
objects as its argument, which represents the command-line arguments passed to your program.
The main
method is the entry point for several reasons:
java MyProgram.jar
), the JVM looks for the main
method and starts executing it. It's used by IDEs: Many Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) use the main
method as the entry point when running your Java program. It's required for some frameworks: Some Java frameworks, like Spring, require a main
method to be present in order to execute your application.
When you create a new Java project, many IDEs automatically generate a Main
class with a main
method. This is because the main
method serves as the starting point for executing your program.
In summary, the main method in Java is the entry point of a Java program, making it a crucial part of any Java application. It's where execution starts, used by IDEs, and required for some frameworks.
How to run a Java method in terminal?
Running a Java method from the terminal is a straightforward process that requires some basic understanding of how Java works and what tools are available for compiling, running, and testing Java code.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to run a Java method from the terminal:
Prerequisites
Java Development Kit (JDK): You need to have JDK installed in your system. This can be downloaded from Oracle's official website. Text Editor or IDE: You'll also need a text editor or an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, or NetBeans to write and edit your Java code.Step 1: Create a new Java class
In your preferred text editor or IDE, create a new file with a .java
extension (e.g., MyJavaClass.java
). This will be the main entry point for your Java program. Write your Java code in this file, including the method you want to run.
For example:
public class MyJavaClass {
public static void myMethod() {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
myMethod();
}
}
Step 2: Compile your Java code
To compile your Java code, you'll need to use the javac
command from the terminal. This will generate a .class
file that contains the bytecode for your program.
Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where your Java source file is located:
cd /path/to/your/java/file
Compile your Java code using the following command:
javac MyJavaClass.java
This will generate a MyJavaClass.class
file in the same directory.
Step 3: Run your Java program
To run your Java program, you'll need to use the java
command from the terminal. This will execute the bytecode generated by javac
.
Run your Java program using the following command:
java MyJavaClass
This will execute the main
method in your MyJavaClass
, which calls your desired myMethod
. You should see the output of this method printed to the console.
Tips and Variations
Running a specific method: If you want to run a specific method without callingmain
, you can use the following command:
java MyJavaClass myMethod
Replace myMethod
with the name of the method you want to run.
java MyJavaClass [argument1] [argument2]
Replace [argument1]
and [argument2]
with the actual values you want to pass.
That's it! With these steps, you should be able to run a Java method from the terminal.