# Java: Methods - Example

## Example

This example shows a simple method that computes the area of a rectangle:

        1. int computeArea(int width, int height) {
        2.     int area;   // This is a local variable
        3.     area = width * height;
        4.     return area;
        5. }

Line 1 is the method header. The first `int` indicates that the value this method returns is going to be an integer. The name of the function is "computeArea", and it has two integer parameters: `width` and `height`.

The body of the method starts with the left brace, "{", on the end of the first line. The "{" doesn't have to be on the same line as the header, but this is a common style.

The body of this simple function contains a declaration on line 2, an assignment statement in line 3, and a `return` statement on line 4. If a method returns a value, then there must be at least one return statement. A `void` method (one which does not return a value), does not require a `return` statement, and will automatically return at the end of the method.