Java: Can the if/else statement be used with a 'return true' and a 'return false'

Question

public boolean ifElseStatement(){

    if(conditions){
       statementBody++;
       return true;
    }
       else
       return false;

If the condition is met, will this method return true ? Or might it return false because it the final return statement is outside of the if body?

I am effectively asking is this correct use of the if/else statement when a boolean value needs to be returned? Or perhaps there is a better or universally preferred way to do this?

To clarify, I am asking if the if-else statement can be used like this, with two return statements. I have always been told to use only one return statement.

Answer 1

If the condition is true, it will not be able to hit the return of the else statement. Once it hits a return, your code immediately returns to where the ifElseStatement() was invoked. Returning a Value from a Method

Answer 2

The method will return the first return statement reached. If conditions == true, will return true, in other case, will return false.