[FIXED] Java. Method Inner Object as return type

Issue

Can I return method local inner object from method?

public class myClass {
    public MyMethodInnerClass getMethodInnerClassObject() {
        class MyMethodInnerClass {
        }
        
        MyMethodInnerClass myMethodClass = new MyMethodInnerClass();
        
        return myMethodClass;
    }
}

throws compilation error. If I can't return my method-local inner class object, then how can I save it after the method returns? How can I reference this object for future usage?

---

Exception thrown:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.Error: Unresolved compilation problem: MethodInnerClass cannot be resolved to a type

And also, I'm aware, that local variables in method are stored in stack and deleted just after the method exists.

Solution

The scope of your class is inside the method only. You can do this however

public Object getMethodInnerClassObject() {

or

static class MyMethodInnerClass { }

public MyMethodInnerClass getMethodInnerClassObject() {
    return new MyMethodInnerClass();
}

Answered By - Peter Lawrey
Answer Checked By - Senaida (JavaFixing Volunteer)