Like a math function or a factory machine, a method takes input and returns output. We’ve just seen how input works (arguments). Let’s see how output works.
When a method returns a value, it essentially passes a piece of data to wherever it was called. One way to capture the returned value of a method is with a variable:
int smallerNumber = Math.Min(3, 4);
Math.Min()
returns the value 3
, so you can imagine that value taking its place.
int smallerNumber = 3;
We can then use that variable as input to other methods, like Console.WriteLine()
:
Console.WriteLine(smallerNumber);
In this case, we can take a shortcut by nesting the method calls:
Console.WriteLine(Math.Min(3, 4));
Now the value returned by Math.Min()
is used as input to Console.WriteLine()
.
Not every method returns a value. Console.WriteLine()
, for example, prints 3
to the console but it doesn’t pass the value 3
to its caller. If you’re not sure what a method returns you can always check the Microsoft documentation.
Instructions
The designer of C# is "Anders Hejlsberg"
. His first name is nice, but we want to print the second name alone.
First, find the index of the space (" "
) in the string designer
and store it in a variable indexOfSpace
.
You’ll need to use the IndexOf()
method.
Use Substring()
and the variable indexOfSpace
to get the second name. Store the returned value in a variable secondName
.
Print secondName
to the console.