Method (computer science) facts for kids

A method in object-oriented programming is like a special action or ability that an object can do. Think of an object as a digital "thing" in a computer program, like a car, a character in a game, or a button on a screen. A method is a set of instructions that tells that object how to perform a task. This task could be changing something about the object itself, or it could be calculating and giving back a piece of information.

For example, if you have a "car" object, it might have methods like "startEngine()", "accelerate()", or "getSpeed()". Each of these methods tells the car object how to do something specific.

What Are Methods For?

Methods are super important because they help organize code and make it easier to manage. Instead of having long lists of instructions, you group related actions together inside the objects they belong to. This makes programs more structured and easier to understand, especially when they get very big.

How Methods Work

When you want an object to do something, you "call" one of its methods. For instance, if you have a car object named `myCar`, you might tell it to start its engine by writing `myCar.startEngine()`. The method then runs its instructions.

Methods can also give back information. Imagine a method called `getOne()`:

public int getOne() {
    return 1;
}

This simple method is written in a style used by languages like Java and C#. When you "call" `getOne()`, it simply gives you back the number 1.

Understanding the Code Example

• The word `public` means that anyone in your program can use this method. It's like a public park that everyone can visit.
• The word `int` tells you what kind of information the method will give back. In this case, `int` means it will return an integer, which is a whole number (like 1, 5, or 100).
• `return 1;` is the instruction that tells the method to give back the number 1.

Different Types of Methods

Not all methods are open for everyone to use. Just like some areas are public and others are private, methods can have different access levels:

• Public methods: These are like the `public` example above. Anyone can use them.
• Private methods: These methods can only be used by the object they belong to. They are often used for internal tasks that the object needs to do for itself, but that other parts of the program don't need to see or use directly. This helps keep data safe and prevents accidental changes.
• Protected methods: These are a bit more complex. They can be used by the object itself and also by other objects that are closely related to it (like family members).

These different access levels help programmers control how different parts of a program interact, making the code safer and more reliable.