Resolving PMD Error

Question

I am using PMD for checking Coding Standards

I am confused about the following below point where PMD is showing Error

1. A method should have only one exit point, and that should be the last statement in the method

Currently inside my Method it is as

public boolean validate()
{
if (length == 4) {
return true;
if (length == 2) {
return false;
else
return false ;
return true ;
}

Is my code is wrong ?? and please tell me how can we chage this in case its wrong ??

Answer 1

Example :

public boolean foo(int i) {
    if (i > 0) {
        return true;   // Multiple exit points
    }
    return false; // ~ ~ ~
}

public boolean bar(int i) {
    boolean bool = false;
    if (i > 0) {
        bool = true;
    }
    return bool;   // Single exit points
}

See OnlyOneReturn.

See question Programming preference - use else ifs with multiple return statements?