Return values of methods

[Matty Mathew]

If a method has a return type, either a primitive or an Object type or any other user-defined type, what happens to the return value if it is not used.
For eg., if I have a hashtable MyHash, I would use the put() method to fill it up. The put() has a return type of Object. However, I don't need the return type so I ignore it. Does the returned Object occupy any memory space...or is it garbage collected if it is not referenced....what happens to this lost value??

[Sean MacLean]

I think you can be assured that it will be available for garbage collection as soon as the method exits (i.e. returns). Just think of the return value as an assignment to a variable, as such
MyObject = getMyObject(); // this method returns a MyObject
The return value now has a reference and is not available for gc. Therefore, if you do this
getMyObject();
then the MyObject instantiated in the method is not referenced and, therefore, is available for gc.
Sean

[kate damond]

Sean,
what is gc as in

The return value now has a reference and is not available for gc.

Cheers,
Kate

[Dave Vick]

Kate
gc = garbage collection

[Matty Mathew]

Thanks folks, u've been a help.