Method invocation and Method call

[Hector Pertierra]

Hello everyone

One of those things I never learned quite correctly: What's the difference between method invocation and a call to a method. When do each one of them starts and when do they end?

Thanks
H�ctor

[Eric Daly]

Uh... aren't they the same thing? Like what's the difference between pop and soda?
Basically it starts at the beginning and ends at the end... I'm not being sarcastic. Take an example:

public void method1() {
    System.out.println("Hey there.");
}

In your code if you call

method1();

it goes through from the opening bracket to the closing bracket, which in this case just prints out "Hey there."

Another example:

public int method2() {
    if (someVariable == 5) {
        return 1;
    }
    else {
        return 4;
    }
}

that method starts from the beginning, but ends either at "return 1;" or "return 4;" depending on what the variable is equal to.
Does that help answer your question?

[EDIT] typo: changed "stsrts" to "starts"
[ April 13, 2007: Message edited by: Eric Daly ]

[Hector Pertierra]

Uhmmmm... No, I think they're not. I say this because I am using AspectJ for Aspect Oriented Programming, and it defines two completely different Join Points for method invocation and method calls.

I was asked to tell one from another in a test today, and got it wrong, so I thought I'd ask. But maybe I posted it in a too basic forum. Please move it if pertinent.

Thanks
HP

[Joanne Neal]

Have you tried asking whoever gave you the test, what they think the difference is ?

[Hector Pertierra]

I don't think it's "what they think" I think that that difference exists. And I can't ask because I have another test tomorrow and he won't answer any questions that's why I tried asking you guys

Anyway, if I don't get an answer, I'll ask my teacher after the exam and then I'll tell you.

Thanks
HP

[Maurizio Nagni]

Shortly.....
usually you define call-a-method all which have a form like
xxx.yyyy(your parameter)

on the other hand you define invoke-a-method when you still do
xxx.yyyy(your parameter)

BUT in this case
1) xxx is an interface available from a jar in your classpath
2) you created a networked connection to the real instance of xxx (that is the class which inplement the xxx interface) because it is a remote object

that is that the implementation of the method you invoke IS NOT machine but in a remote machine....to be honest it can be also your same machine.... but
if you want to know all the story about "invoking" read some documentation about RMI like
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/rmi/index.html