What is the purpose of the main method in Java?

The main method is a crucial part of a Java program. It is the entry point of any Java application and serves as the starting point of program execution.

The purpose of the main method in Java is to provide the application's starting point. When a Java program is run, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) first looks for the main method as it is the entry point of the program. The main method is where the program starts executing and is the method where all the necessary objects and classes are instantiated and used.

The signature of the main method in Java is standard and is as follows:

public static void main(String[] args)

The main method in Java must be declared as public, as it needs to be accessible from outside the class. It must be declared as static, as it needs to be called without an instance of the class. It must also have a return type of void, as it does not return any value. The parameter String[] args is an array of strings that can be used to pass command-line arguments to the program.