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Learn Java: Methods: Scope
Narrative and Instructions
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LEARN JAVA: METHODS
Scope
A method is a task that an object of a class performs.
We mark the domain of this task using curly braces: {, and }. Everything inside the curly braces
is part of the task. This domain is called the scope of a method.
We can’t access variables that are declared inside a method in code that is outside the scope of
that method.
Looking at the Car class again:
class Car {
String color;
int milesDriven;
public Car(String carColor) {
color = carColor;
milesDriven = 0;
}
public void drive() {
String message = "Miles driven: " + milesDriven;
System.out.println(message);
}
public static void main(String[] args){
Car myFastCar = new Car("red");
myFastCar.drive();
}
}
The variable message, which is declared and initialized inside of drive, cannot be used inside
of main()! It only exists within the scope of the drive() method.
However, milesDriven, which is declared at the top of the class, can be used inside all methods in
the class, since it is in the scope of the whole class.
Instructions
1.
Inside of the advertise() method, change the productType variable to the cookie variable, which
is declared in the main() method. This should also result in the printout:
Selling cookies!
Right?
Checkpoint 2 Passed
Hint
Your advertise() method should now look like:
public void advertise() {
String message = "Selling " + cookie + "!";
System.out.println(message);
}
However, you’ll see that this code won’t work, since cookie is not defined in
the advertise() method. That’s okay! It’s helpful to see the error, so that you can better
understand how it looks when you call a variable outside of its scope.
2.
No! We got an error! The cookie variable cannot be accessed inside of the advertise method. The
scope is wrong! Change it back to productType:
String message = "Selling " + productType + "!";
Checkpoint 3 Passed
Hint
Your advertise() method should now look like it did at first:
public void advertise() {
String message = "Selling " + productType + "!";
System.out.println(message);
}
3.
Inside of the main() method, print the String message, which is declared in
the advertise() method. This should print:
Selling Cookies!
Right?
Checkpoint 4 Passed
Hint
Your main() method should now look something like:
public static void main(String[] args) {
String cookie = "Cookies";
Store cookieShop = new Store(cookie);
cookieShop.advertise();
System.out.println(message);
}
However, you’ll see that this code won’t work, since message is not defined in the main() method.
That’s okay! It’s helpful to see the error, so that you can better understand how it looks when
you call a variable outside of its scope.
4.
Foiled again! The message variable only exists inside the scope of the advertise() method!
Delete the faulty print statement from the main() method.
Checkpoint 5 Passed
Hint
Your main() method should now look like it did on at first:
public static void main(String[] args) {
String cookie = "Cookies";
Store cookieShop = new Store(cookie);
cookieShop.advertise();
}
public class Store {
// instance fields
String productType;
// constructor method
public Store(String product) {
productType = product;
// advertise method
public void advertise() {
String message = "Selling " + productType + "!";
System.out.println(message);
}
// main method
public static void main(String[] args) {
String cookie = "Cookies";
Store cookieShop = new Store(cookie);
cookieShop.advertise();
