What are the valid characters for a Java method name?

Question

I read about the naming of Java variables. It says that Java variables cannot start with any numbers and special characters except for $ and _.

Some valid examples:

int count;
int _count;
int $count;

And some invalid examples:

int %count;
int 4count;
int #count;

Do the same rules apply to method names?

Is there a reason why you'd want to use characters like these at the start of a variable, method, or anything? — wattostudios, Apr 18 '12 at 14:10
I'm working on an extern domain specific language with Xtext that is executed on Java virtual machine. That's why I would like to make this precise :) Thanks! — kon, Apr 18 '12 at 14:15
possible duplicate of [Legal identifiers in Java](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11774099/legal-identifiers-in-java) because of http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-8.html#jls-8.4 — Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com, Apr 04 '15 at 08:19

rid · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-18T14:15:45.440

14

Yes, method names and variable names are what's called "identifiers". Identifiers all share the same rules regarding accepted characters. Take a look at §3.8 from the Java Language Specification to find out exactly what an identifier may contain, and §6.2 for an explanation about how identifiers are used.

edited Apr 18 '12 at 14:15

answered Apr 18 '12 at 14:10

rid

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Yes, and this is a nice view of it here, too. http://cui.unige.ch/isi/bnf/JAVA/identifier.html – Todd Murray Apr 18 '12 at 14:18

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 30 '15 at 20:52

1

You might be surprised when having unusual characters for method, such as:

public void mój_brzuch_zacznie_burczeć()

and it works pretty nice. Take a look at this blog to see more fancy examples.

answered Jan 30 '15 at 20:52

Damian

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or U+02BC (Modifier Letter Apostrophe) `void itʼs_a_method()`. You can use any modifier letters https://unicode-table.com/en/blocks/spacing-modifier-letters/ – Joter Jun 08 '21 at 23:00

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 18 '12 at 14:12

0

From the Java Tutorial:

"Although a method name can be any legal identifier, code conventions restrict method names." http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/methods.html

answered Apr 18 '12 at 14:12

Christian

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What are the valid characters for a Java method name?

3 Answers3

Linked