method declaration

noun

UK /ˈmɛθəd ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən/

US /ˈmɛθəd ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən/

A method declaration is the line of code that tells the computer a method's name and what it needs.

The method declaration says the method is called add and takes two numbers.

SYNONYMS

method signature method header function declaration method definition

RELATED WORDS

method parameter return type class function

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The part of a program that announces a method before its full code is written.

She wrote the method declaration first and filled in the body later.

3. A formal statement in code that names a method and lists its inputs and output type.

The compiler checks each method declaration for errors.

4. In some languages, a promise that a method exists somewhere in the program.

The header file contains only the method declaration, not the code.