Java: Method that returns either String or int

Question

A part of a small program I am coding:

String maxs = "";
int maxi = 0;

At this part I defined two variables as int and String.

public Class(String max){
   try {
           this.maxi = Integer.parseInt(max);
       }catch (Exception e){
           this.maxs = max;
       }
}

I think this way I will get to define one of both variables, if the String does not parse to int it will be saved as normal String.

Now I need to check what I need to return:

private TypeOfReturn getMax(){
    if(this.maxi == 0){
        // return maxs (return String)
    } else if (this.maxs.equals("")) {
        // return maxi (return int)
    } else return null;
}

The quastion is, how do I fill the missing parts of the method getMax()?

Is it even possiable in Java?

this.maxi = Integer.parseInt(max); where the max come from ? — Omore
– Omore, Commented Mar 31, 2017 at 14:16
Is this for a school assignment? Or is there another purpose for this in your program? There are probably many other ways that are better if this isnt a specific assignment. — Alex Karlsson
– Alex Karlsson, Commented Mar 31, 2017 at 14:24

Syed Faisal Abbas · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-31 14:39:36Z

2

Use Object instead of TypeOfReturn You can change the TypeoOfReturn to Object and then return the respective types.

answered Mar 31, 2017 at 14:39

Syed Faisal Abbas

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Comments

Alex Karlsson · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-31 14:40:33Z

1

Another way to find out fast if a string is a number or not, which is the main part of your program, is to use the lambda expressions in java 8 like this:

String max = "123";
boolean isNumber = max.chars().allMatch(Character::isDigit);
System.out.println(isNumber);

Which will give you the output

true

answered Mar 31, 2017 at 14:40

Alex Karlsson

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Comments

VNT · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-31 14:27:39Z

0

Make your TypeOfReturn as String object type and convert the maxi as String and return that String in your else if condition.

Note: you cannot return both the int and String in the Same method.

answered Mar 31, 2017 at 14:27

VNT

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1 Comment

Subhi Samara Over a year ago

I changed the TypeOfReturn to Object. it did work. thanks anyway

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