If you return a reference to an object which happens to be a method$-$local variable, the return happens before the method$$s local variables are destroyed. So you can create an object in your method and return it knowing the calling method will have use of the object you just created. This is because when your local object reference is destroyed, the calling method has a $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$ to your object so the JVM will not destroy it since it has an active reference to it$.$