Method with multiple return points

Reports methods whose number of return points exceeds the specified maximum. Methods with too many return points may be confusing and hard to refactor.

A return point is either a return statement or a falling through the bottom of a void method or constructor.

Example:

The method below is reported if only two return statements are allowed:

  void doSmth(User[] users) {
    for (User user : users) {
      if (cond1(user)) {
        user.setId(getId());
        return;
      } else if (cond2(user)) {
        if (cond3(user)) {
          user.setId(getId());
          return;
        }
      }
    }
  }

Consider rewriting the method so it becomes easier to understand:

  void doSmth(User[] users) {
    for (User user : users) {
      if (cond1(user) || cond2(user) && cond3(user)) {
        user.setId(getId());
        return;
      }
    }
  }

Locating this inspection

By ID

Can be used to locate inspection in e.g. Qodana configuration files, where you can quickly enable or disable it, or adjust its settings.

MethodWithMultipleReturnPoints

Via Settings dialog

Path to the inspection settings via IntelliJ Platform IDE Settings dialog, when you need to adjust inspection settings directly from your IDE.

Settings or Preferences | Editor | Inspections | Java | Method metrics

Configure the inspection:

Use the Return point limit field to specify the maximum allowed number of return points for a method.
Use the Ignore guard clauses option to ignore guard clauses. A guard clause is an if statement that contains only a return statement
Use the Ignore for 'equals()' methods option to ignore return points inside equals() methods.

Inspection ID: MultipleReturnPointsPerMethod

Inspection options

Here you can find the description of settings available for the Method with multiple return points inspection, and the reference of their default values.

Return point limit

Option ID:

m_limit

Default value:

Ignore guard clauses

Option ID:

ignoreGuardClauses

Default value:

Not selected

Ignore for 'equals()' methods

Option ID:

ignoreEqualsMethod

Default value:

Not selected

Suppressing Inspection

You can suppress this inspection by placing the following comment marker before the code fragment where you no longer want messages from this inspection to appear:

//noinspection MethodWithMultipleReturnPoints

More detailed instructions as well as other ways and options that you have can be found in the product documentation:

IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3

Inspection Details
By default bundled with:	IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3, Qodana for JVM 2025.3,

Last modified: 03 December 2025