main method in public static and void
The main() method in Java is declared as public, static, and void for specific reasons related to program execution and accessibility. Let’s break down each aspect:
Table of Contents
- 1. Public:
- The ‘public’ access modifier indicates that the main() method is accessible from outside the class and can be called by other classes.
- It allows the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to locate and invoke the main() method when launching the application.
- 2. Static:
- The ‘static’ keyword indicates that the ‘main()’ method belongs to the class itself, rather than to individual instances of the class.
- It allows the ‘main()’ method to be called without creating an instance of the class, which is necessary for the JVM to execute the program.
- Without the ‘static’ keyword, the JVM would need to instantiate the class before invoking the ‘main()’ method, which is not feasible during program startup.
- 3. Void:
- The ‘void’ return type specifies that the ‘main()’ method does not return any value after execution.
- Since the ‘main()’ method is the entry point of a Java program, it does not return any result to its caller (the JVM).
- Other methods in Java may have different return types depending on the data they produce or manipulate, but the ‘main()’ method serves as the starting point of execution and does not return a value.
By declaring the ‘main()’ method as ‘public’, ‘static’, and ‘void’, Java ensures that it can be accessed by the JVM, invoked without object instantiation, and does not return any value upon completion. This standardized signature allows the JVM to reliably locate and execute the ‘main()’ method when launching Java applications.