How to return an array in Java

In this section, we are going to learn how to return an array in Java.

Remember:

A method can return a reference to an array.
The return type of a method must be declared as an array of the correct data type.

Example 1

In the following example, the method returns an array of integer type.

import java.util.Arrays;
public class ReturnArrayExample1
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
int[] a=numbers();		     //obtain the array
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) //for loop to print the array
System.out.print( a[i]+ " ");   
}
public static int[] numbers()
{
int[] arr={5,6,7,8,9};	//initializing array
return arr;
}
}

Output:

Example 2

In the following example, the method returns an array of double type.

public class ReturnArrayExample3
{
public static double[] returnArray( )
{
double[] arr = new double [3];    // Creating an array of 3 elements
arr[0]=6.9;
arr [1]=2.5;
arr [2]=11.5;
return( x );         	// Return the reference of the array
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
double[] a;			//variable to store returned array
a = returnArray();		//called method
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) //for loop to print the array
System.out.println( a[i]+ " ");   
}
}

Output:

Example 3

In the following example, method returns an array of object type.

import java.util.Arrays;
class ReturnArrayExample3
{
public static int[] returnArray()
{
int a1=20;
int a2=23;
int a3=87;
return new int[] {a1,a2,a3};	 //returns array
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
int[] arr=returnArray();	//invoking method and storing returned array into arr
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(arr));	//returns the string representation of the object
}
}

Output: