Define COBOL instance methods in the PROCEDURE DIVISION of the OBJECT paragraph of a class definition. An instance method defines an operation that is supported for each object instance of a class.
A COBOL instance method definition consists of four divisions (like a COBOL program), followed by an END METHOD marker.
| Division | Purpose | Syntax |
|---|---|---|
| IDENTIFICATION (required) | Name a method. | METHOD-ID paragraph for defining a class instance method
(required)
AUTHOR paragraph (optional) |
| ENVIRONMENT (optional) | Relate the file-names used in a method to the corresponding file-names known to the operating system. | INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION for defining a class instance method (optional) |
| DATA (optional) | Define external files. Allocate a copy of the data. | DATA DIVISION for defining a class instance method (optional) |
| PROCEDURE (optional) | Code the executable statements to complete the service provided by the method. | PROCEDURE DIVISION for defining a class instance method (optional) |
Definition: The signature of a method consists of the name of the method and the number and type of its formal parameters. (You define the formal parameters of a COBOL method in the USING phrase of the method's PROCEDURE DIVISION header.)
Within a class definition, you do not need to make each method-name unique, but you do need to give each method a unique signature. (You overload methods by giving them the same name but a different signature.)
COBOL instance methods are equivalent to Java™ public nonstatic methods.