Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Data Structures - Retired Organizing Data Comparable

David Rojas
David Rojas
1,510 Points
Posted by David Rojas
David Rojas
1,510 Points

Java error: missing return statement?

I really do not understand how to get around this error, I have read already lots of examples about the error but I am kind of lost!

I do not know what is missing or wrong.

com/example/BlogPost.java 
package com.example;

import java.util.Date;

public class BlogPost {
  private String mAuthor;
  private String mTitle;
  private String mBody;
  private String mCategory;
  private Date mCreationDate;

  public BlogPost(String author, String title, String body, String category, Date creationDate) {
    mAuthor = author;
    mTitle = title;
    mBody = body;
    mCategory = category;
    mCreationDate = creationDate;
  }

  public int compareTo(Object obj) {
    BlogPost other = (BlogPost) obj;
    if (equals(other)) {
    return 1;
    }

  }

  public String[] getWords() {
    return mBody.split("\\s+");
  }

  public String getAuthor() {
    return mAuthor;
  }

  public String getTitle() {
    return mTitle;
  }

  public String getBody() {
    return mBody;
  }

  public String getCategory() {
    return mCategory;
  }

  public Date getCreationDate() {
    return mCreationDate;
  }
}
Alain Perez
Alain Perez
Courses Plus Student 32 Points

Missing return statemnt.

3 Answers

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
3,801 Points

Consider the following block of code:

  public int compareTo(Object obj) {
    BlogPost other = (BlogPost) obj;
    if (equals(other)) {
    return 1;
    }

  }

You have an if statement, but no else, and no code after this if statement. If equals(other) returns false, your code will not be able to return an int value, which is why the compiler is telling you that you are missing a return statement.

David Rojas
David Rojas
1,510 Points
David Rojas
David Rojas
1,510 Points

Thank you, now it is clear to me!

howardlim2
howardlim2
1,014 Points
howardlim2
howardlim2
1,014 Points

missing return statement because it is possible that the object are not equal then no return statement

Alain Perez
PLUS
Alain Perez
Courses Plus Student 32 Points
Alain Perez
Alain Perez
Courses Plus Student 32 Points

public class NewTester {

public static String main(String[] args) {
    int num=252,sumFirst=0,sumLast=0;
    String first,last;

    String value = String.valueOf(num);

    if ( value.length() % 2 ==0) { //checks for even values
         first =value.substring(0,value.length()/2-1);//works for even
         last =value.substring(value.length()/2+1,value.length());//works for even

        for(int i = 0; i < first.length(); i++) {
            int j = Character.digit(first.charAt(i), 10);//returns each digit in string as int
            sumFirst += j;}
        for(int i = 0; i < last.length(); i++) {
            int j = Character.digit(last.charAt(i), 10);//returns each digit in string as int
            sumLast += j;}
         if ( sumFirst == sumLast )
         {
             return "Balanced";
         }}
         else
             return "Not Balanced";         

    if ( value.length() % 2 !=0)
    {
         first =value.substring(0,value.length()/2);//works for odd
         last =value.substring(value.length()/2+1,value.length());//works for odd

            for(int i = 0; i < first.length(); i++) {
                int j = Character.digit(first.charAt(i), 10);//returns each digit in string as int
                sumFirst += j;}
            for(int i = 0; i < last.length(); i++) {
                int j = Character.digit(last.charAt(i), 10);//returns each digit in string as int
                sumLast += j;}
             if ( sumFirst == sumLast )
             {
                 return "Balanced";
             }}

                  return "Not Balanced";


}

}