[java] Terminating a Java Program

I found out ways to terminate (shut-down or stop) my Java programs. I found two solutions for it.

1. using return;
   When I want to quit or terminate my program execution , I add this.

2. using System.exit() ;
   Sometimes I used it. I read about Sytem.exit() from This Question.

So, I know a little on both them. But I am still confused as to how they actually work. Please check below codes...

public class Testing {

public static void main(String... str) {
    System.out.println(1);
    System.exit(0);
    System.out.println(2);
    return;
 }
}

I am sure that 2 will not appear. I would like to know is why return; or other codes can write below the statement of System.exit(0); and what was real definition for return; (because it is strange thing for me return without any variables or values) ?

Because System.exit() is just another method to the compiler. It doesn't read ahead and figure out that the whole program will quit at that point (the JVM quits). Your OS or shell can read the integer that is passed back in the System.exit() method. It is standard for 0 to mean "program quit and everything went OK" and any other value to notify an error occurred. It is up to the developer to document these return values for any users.

return on the other hand is a reserved key word that the compiler knows well. return returns a value and ends the current function's run moving back up the stack to the function that invoked it (if any). In your code above it returns void as you have not supplied anything to return.

System.exit() terminates the JVM. Nothing after System.exit() is executed. Return is generally used for exiting a method. If the return type is void, then you could use return; But I don't think is a good practice to do it in the main method. You don't have to do anything for terminate a program, unless infinite loop or some strange other execution flows.

• Well, first System.exit(0) is used to terminate the program and having statements below it is not correct, although the compiler does not throw any errors.
• a plain return; is used in a method of void return type to return the control of execution to its parent method.

1. System.exit() is a method that causes JVM to exit.
2. return just returns the control to calling function.
3. return 8 will return control and value 8 to calling method.

What does return; mean?

return; really means it returns nothing void. That's it.

why return; or other codes can write below the statement of System.exit(0);

It is allowed since compiler doesn't know calling System.exit(0) will terminate the JVM. The compiler will just give a warning - unnecessary return statement

So return; does not really terminate your java program, it only terminates your java function (void). Because in your case the function is the main function of your application, return; will also terminate the application. But the return; in your example is useless, because the function will terminate directly after this return anyway...

The System.exit() will completly terminate your program and it will close any open window.