Multiple open and close curly brackets inside method. - Java

Question

 public class MyTestClass {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new MyTestClass().myMethod();
    }

    public void myMethod(){
        {
                 


        

Answer 1

It is not common practice to do this kind of thing, and I wouldn't do it normally.

Those inner blocks ( i.e. { ... } ) can serve a couple of purposes:

• Blocks limit the scope of any variables declared within them; e.g.

  public void foo() {
      int i = 1;
      { 
          int j = 2;
      }
      // Can't refer to the "j" declared here.  But can declare a new one.
      int j = 3;
  }
  

  However, I wouldn't recommend doing this. IMO, it's better to use different variable names OR refactor the code into smaller methods. Either way, most Java programmers would regard the { and } as annoying visual clutter.

• Blocks can be used to attach labels.

  HERE : {
      ...
      break HERE;  // breaks to the statement following the block
      ...
  }
  

  However, in practice you hardly ever see labelled break statements. And because they are so unusual, they tend to render the code less readable.

Answer 2

public void stuff() {
  int i = 48;

  { 
    int i = 21;
    System.out.println(i); // prints 21
  }
  System.out.println(i); // prints 48
}

Basically, it's a way to create scopes smaller than entire function... Benefit?.. have the people stare at your code longer before they understand it... IMO it's bad style and should be avoided