8.4.1 Formal Parameters

The formal parameters of a method, if any, are specified by a list of comma-separated parameter specifiers. Each parameter specifier consists of a type and an identifier (optionally followed by brackets) that specifies the name of the parameter:

FormalParameterList:

	FormalParameter

	FormalParameterList , FormalParameter

FormalParameter:

	Type VariableDeclaratorId

The following is repeated from §8.3 to make the presentation here clearer:

VariableDeclaratorId:

	Identifier

	VariableDeclaratorId [ ]

If a method has no parameters, only an empty pair of parentheses appears in the method's declaration.

If two formal parameters are declared to have the same name (that is, their declarations mention the same Identifier), then a compile-time error occurs.

When the method is invoked (§15.11), the values of the actual argument expressions initialize newly created parameter variables, each of the declared Type, before execution of the body of the method. The Identifier that appears in the DeclaratorId may be used as a simple name in the body of the method to refer to the formal parameter.

The scope of formal parameter names is the entire body of the method. These parameter names may not be redeclared as local variables or exception parameters within the method; that is, hiding the name of a parameter is not permitted.

Formal parameters are referred to only using simple names, never by using qualified names (§6.6).