java - Why am I getting a "missing return statement" error? -

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• missing return statement if/else statement 8 answers
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• compiling error: missing return statement [duplicate] 8 answers

this method supposed return true if 1 of first 4 elements in array 9. array length may less 4. in method, reason, keep getting "missing return statement error".

public boolean arrayfront9(int[] nums) {    if (nums.length < 4) {     int counter = 0;      while (counter != nums.length) {       if (nums[counter] == 9) {         return true;       }else{         counter = counter + 1;       }     } if (counter > nums.length) {       return false;     }   }else{     int counter = 0;     while (counter <= 4) {       if (nums[counter] == 9) {         return true;       }else{        counter = counter + 1;       } if (counter > 4) {         return false;       }     }   } } 

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i understand have make sure no matter code has have return value, given if , else statement, length of array either less 4 or greater or equal 4, no matter array presented should enter 1 of these conditionals?

try one

public boolean arrayfront9(int[] nums) {         boolean result = false;            if (nums.length < 4) {             int counter = 0;                 while (counter != nums.length) {                       if (nums[counter] == 9) {                           result= true;                         return result;                       }else{                         counter = counter + 1;                       }                 }                   if (counter > nums.length) {                      result= false;                         return result;                     }           } else{                 int counter = 0;                     while (counter <= 4) {                       if (nums[counter] == 9) {                           result= true;                             return result;                           }                       else{                        counter = counter + 1;                       }                      if (counter > 4) {                         result= false;                         return result;                   }                 }               }         return result;         } 

actually not returning in method in if/else.