Can there exist two main methods in a Java program?

Question

Can there exist two main methods in a Java program?

Only by the difference in their arguments like:

public static void main(String[] args)
         


        

Answer 1

That would be compilable code, as long as StringSecond was a class. However, if by "main method" you mean a second entry point into the program, then the answer to your question is still no. Only the first option (public static void main(String[] args)) can be the entry point into your program.

Note, however, that if you were to place a second main(String[]) method in a different class (but in the same project) you could have multiple possible entry points into the project which you could then choose from. But this cannot conflict with the principles of overriding or overloading.

Also note that one source of confusion in this area, especially for introductory programmers, is that public static void main(String[] args) and public static void main(String ... args) are both used as entry points and are treated as having the same method signature.