Yes.
Here is the example program, now with additional statements:
class StringDemo2
{
public static void main ( String[] args )
{
String str;
int len;
str = new String( "Elementary, my dear Watson!" );
len = str.length(); // call the length() method of the object
System.out.println("The length is: " + len );
}
}
The expression
str.length();
runs the length()
method of the object referred to by str
.
This method counts the number of characters in the data of the object.
In our object, it counts the number of characters in "Elementary, my dear Watson!"
which is 27.
That value is then assigned to the int
variable len
.
Space characters and punctuation characters are included in the length of a string.
Calling a method means asking a method to run.
This program called the length()
method.
(Sometimes the phrase invoking a method is used to mean the same thing.)
Methods frequently return a value.
The length
method returned the value 27.
(Sometimes a method is said to evaluate to a value.)
It is as if the method call is replaced by the value it returns.
So that
len = str.length();
is replaced with
len = 27;
Complete the analogy:
object you reference your cell phone number variable piece of paper with your cell phone number written on it method call ??? return value ???