Theory: The main method

The declaration of the main method

Java is primarily an object-oriented language. It means a Java program can be considered as a collection of objects that communicate via calling each other's methods. A typical Java program includes a lot of classes, interfaces, objects, and other concepts from object-oriented programming.

Even the simplest "procedural-style" program should have at least one class and the main method inside to start the program. The main method is the entry point for any application. Ever since Java 7, there has been no other way to start an application without this method (excluding the case when you start your application inside a special container for applications but it is not considered in our materials).

Let's see an example of the simplest application that prints the text "Hello, Java" in the standard output:

Here is a class named Main. The class contains the main method for starting the program.

It is important to mention that a class containing the main method can have any name, but the main method should always have the name main.

Let's take a closer look at the declaration of the main method:

• the keyword public indicates that the method can be invoked from everywhere;
• the keyword static indicates the method can be invoked without creating an instance of the class;
• the keyword void indicates the method doesn't return any value;
• the array variable args contains arguments entered at the command line, the array is empty if there are no arguments.

Invalid declarations of the main method

If the main method has an invalid declaration, two cases are possible:

• your program cannot be compiled
• your program is successfully compiled but can't be started

Your program cannot be compiled. It is a case when the main method declaration breaks the syntax of Java.

A program can be compiled but cannot be run. It is a case when the main method has a correct declaration as a regular method but doesn't satisfy the specific requirement of the main method.