Return statement

Question

I have a very simple program actually want to grab the concept; for methods with non-void return type as in my case its int, I am obliged to use a return statement but using that return statement am unable to print a number that I have taken from the user. What I need to do? Thanks

I can use the Console.WriteLine() method in this if-else to let the user know that his/her entered number is even or not But this return statement is then for which purpose?

namespace x
{
class CheckEvenNum
{
static int Check(int num)
{
if (num % 2 == 0)
{
Console.WriteLine("It is a even number");
return num; // Want to print the number on console with this return
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("Not an even number");
return -1; // Want to print the number on console with this return
}
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Enter a positive number");
int number=Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());
CheckEvenNum.Check(number);
}
}
}

Muhammad Imran Ansari · Answer

You are returning int value from Check method which is returning number itself in case of even and -1 for odd. The reason behind could be identify the number is Even/Odd in Main method for further processing. For your requirements, you can do this with many ways: 1. In Main check number if > 0 then Show Even otherwise Odd on console 2. In Check method change return type as void and append number with message showing on sonsole 3. In Check method change return type as string and append number with message and return to main Point-1: class CheckEvenNum { static int Check( int num) { if (num % 2 == 0) return num; else return -1; } static void Main( string [] args) { Console.WriteLine( "Enter a positive number" ); int number = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine()); if (CheckEvenNum.Check(number) > 0) Console.WriteLine( "It is a even number: " + number); else Console.WriteLine( "Not an even number: " + number); } } Point-2: class CheckEvenNum { static void Check( int num) { if (num % 2 == 0) { Console.WriteLine( "It is a even number: " + num); } else { Console.WriteLine( "Not an even number: " + num); } } static void Main( string [] args) { Console.WriteLine( "Enter a positive number" ); int number = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine()); CheckEvenNum.Check(number); } } Point-3: class CheckEvenNum { static string Check( int num) { if (num % 2 == 0) { return "It is a even number: " + num; } else { return "Not an even number: " + num; } } static void Main( string [] args) { Console.WriteLine( "Enter a positive number" ); int number = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine()); Console.WriteLine(CheckEvenNum.Check(number)); } }

Sachin Singh · Answer

@Shazma, Returning and printing are two very different things, and isn't it very obvious also, why are you so confused over such a simple thing. a method exactly does the thing it is defined for. You are returning an int or a bool from your method, No, where in the method you are defining to print something, so how magically your method will start printing when you call it? Public string Method1() { return "Welcome" ; } it will just return a string, now how and where you will use this string its up to you method has nothing to do with it. void Main() { Console.WriteLine(Method1()); } you can use it as or void Main() { var x=Method()+ "Sachin" ; Console.WriteLine(x); } or while ( int i { Console.WriteLine(Method1()); i++; } Or, you can use this method in any other project like MVC/WebForm/WPF and display the result in HTML or WinForms etc.

Sachin Singh · Answer

It should be namespace x { class CheckEvenNum { static bool Check( int num) { if (num % 2 == 0) { return true ; } return false ; } static void Main(string[] args) { Console.WriteLine( "Enter a positive number" ); int number=Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine()); bool isEven= CheckEvenNum.Check(number); if (isEven){ Console.WriteLine( "{0} is even" ,number); } else { Console.WriteLine( "{0} is not even" ,number); } } } } Int was not making any sense there, however, you can always return anything you wish.

Muhammad Imran Ansari · Answer

Correct but I would recommend for point-1 because logic for check method will remain seperate and can be part of any dll for further use and print your message in main on the basis of return type.

Shazma Batool · Answer

Ahan.. what I intended to do was to return the number( I mean to say it would be printed with the return statement) that the user entered but this is simply not the case with return, thanks @Sachin Singh

Shazma Batool · Answer

@ Muhammad Imran Ansari okay am going with point 3 and it is concluded that return statement returns any xyz thing but that xyz thing cannot be displayed or atleast cannot be shown without using Console.WriteLine() method. Thanks @ Muhammad Imran Ansari and Console.WriteLine() method!

Shazma Batool · Answer

@Sachin Singh but again here we are using Console.WriteLine() to show that number so this means using just return num or return -1 doesn't help you in printing something on the console it is just a statement that you have to write if your return type is other than void