Returning Multiple Values in Java

Java does not support multiple return values. However, sometimes it is required to return multiple values. For that, we can use the following solutions.

Case 1: If all of the returned values are the same

If all the values that have to be returned are the same, then we can use an array. For example, two numbers are given, and it is required to perform the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on these numbers. In such a scenario, we can use an array. Observe the following program.

FileName: ReturnMultipleValues.java

public class ReturnMultipleValues 
{
// a method that performs basic arithmetic 
// operations (+, - , *, /) on number a and b
public int[] performBasicArithOp(int a, int b)
{
int add = a + b;
int substract = a - b;
int multiply = a * b;
int divide = a / b;
int ans[] = new int[4];
ans[0] = add;
ans[1] = substract;
ans[2] = multiply;
ans[3] = divide;
return ans;
}
// main method
public static void main(String[] argvs) 
{
// creating an object of the class ReturnMultipleValues
ReturnMultipleValues obj = new ReturnMultipleValues();
// input 1
int n1 = 6;
int n2 = 3;
int ans[] = obj.performBasicArithOp(n1, n2);
System.out.println("The sum of numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + ans[0]);
System.out.println("The difference of numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + ans[1]);
System.out.println("The multiplication of numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + ans[2]);
System.out.println("The division of numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + ans[3]);
}
}

Output:

The sum of numbers 6 and 3 is: 9
The difference of numbers 6 and 3 is: 3
The multiplication of numbers 6 and 3 is: 18
The division of numbers 6 and 3 is: 2

Complexity Analysis: Since the program is using a for-loop for computing the sum of elements, the time complexity of the program is O(n), where n is the total number of elements present in the array. The space complexity of the program is constant, i.e., O(1).

Case 2: If we have to return two values of different types

In case we have the two values of the different types, we can use Pair.

FileName: ReturnMultipleValues1.java

// creating our own Pair Class
class Pair<X, Y> 
{
    private final X k;
    private final Y v;
    public Pair(X k, Y v) 
    {
        this.k = k;
        this.v = v;
    }
    public X retrieveKey() 
    {
        return this.k;
    }
    public Y retrieveVal() 
    {
        return this.v;
    }
}
public class ReturnMultipleValues1
{
    // the foo() method returns two values and 
    // that too of different types
    public Pair<String, Integer> foo()
    {
        return new Pair<String, Integer>("JavaTpoint", 100);
    }
// main method
public static void main(String[] argvs) 
{
// creating an object of the class ReturnMultipleValues1
ReturnMultipleValues1 obj = new ReturnMultipleValues1();
Pair<String, Integer> p = obj.foo();
System.out.println(p.retrieveKey() + " " + p.retrieveVal());
}
}

Output:

JavaTpoint 100

Case 3: If we have to return more values of different types

In that case, we can use a class. Observe the following program.

FileName: ArithmeticOperation.java

class ArithmeticOperation 
{
int m; // for storing multiplication
double d; // for storing division
int a; // for storing addition
String s;
// constructor of the class
ArithmeticOperation(int mul, double div, int add, String str)
{
m = mul;
d = div;
a = add;
s = str;
}
}
public class ReturnMultipleValues2
{
public ArithmeticOperation getMultDivAdd(int n1, int n2)
{
// creating and returning object of ArithmeticOperation that contains multiple values
return new ArithmeticOperation(n1 * n2, (double)n1 / n2, n1 + n2, "Performing Arithmetic Operation");
}
// main method
public static void main(String[] argvs) 
{
int n1 = 29;
int n2 = 20;
// creating an object of the class ArithmeticOperation
ArithmeticOperation obj = (new ReturnMultipleValues2()).getMultDivAdd(n1, n2);
System.out.println("Statement: " + obj.s);
System.out.println("The Multiplication of the numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + obj.m);
System.out.println("The Division of the numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + obj.d);
System.out.println("The Addition of the numbers " + n1 + " and " + n2 + " is: " + obj.a);
}
}

Output:

Statement: Performing Arithmetic Operation
The Multiplication of the numbers 29 and 20 is: 580
The Division of the numbers 29 and 20 is: 1.45
The Addition of the numbers 29 and 20 is: 49

Next TopicCentered Square Numbers in Java

← prev next →