How many types of user-defined methods are there?

In Java, user-defined methods can be categorized based on different criteria, leading to the understanding that there are generally two main types: the methods that return a value and those that do not.

The first type is a method that does return a value, which is specified by a return type in the method signature. This type of method is useful when the operation performed by the method needs to provide some information back to the caller, such as calculations or data retrieval.

The second type consists of methods that do not return a value, characterized by a return type declared as 'void.' These methods are typically used to perform actions, such as printing to the console or modifying attributes of objects without needing to send back any information.

This clear distinction between methods that return a value and those that do not is fundamental in understanding how to design and utilize methods effectively in Java programming. Recognizing these two types helps programmers decide how to structure their code based on the required functionality.