# Extract Method dialog

> **TL;DR**
> `Refactor | Extract | Method`
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> `Ctrl+Alt+M` (Windows), `⌘ ⌥ M` (macOS), `⌘ ⌥ M` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ ⌥ M` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+M` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+M` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+M` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+M` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+M` (Sublime Text), `⌘ ⌥ M` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Shift+M` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+R, M` (Visual Studio), `⌘ R, M` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Alt+Shift+M` (Eclipse), `⌘ ⌥ M` (Eclipse (macOS))

For more information about extracting a method and check code examples, refer to the [Extract method](extract-method.html) section.

| Item | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Name | In this field, specify the name of the function or method to be generated on the basis of the selected source code. |
| Visibility |  In this area, specify the visibility scope of the method to be generated.  |
| Declare static |    Select this checkbox to have a static method created.      > **Tip:** > If the new method cannot be declared as static, or, vice-versa, can be created only as a static method, the Declare Static checkbox is disabled.    |
| Generate annotations | This option inserts inferred `@Nullable`/`@NotNull` annotations to parameters and return types.  |
| Declare varargs | Select this option if you want to declare varargs instead of the array. |
| Fold parameters | Select this option to fold the parameters, for example, if you have an array, like `int[] a = new int[i]`, and you want `a[i]` to be passed as a whole to the newly created method. |
| Extract chained constructor | Use this option to extract chained constructor from the constructor body, replacing the original code with `this`. |
| Output variable(s) | This read-only field displays the name of the variable through which the output of the new method/function will be passed to the calling method/function. Depending on your choice in the [Return output variable(s) through](#returnOutputVariablesThrough) area, this variable either will be used in a return statement or will be declared as the passed by reference parameter of the new method/function. |
| Return output variable(s) through |    In this area, specify the way in which the new method or function will [return the output variables](http://php.net/manual/en/functions.returning-values.php) to the callee.        * Return statement - select this option to have the output variables returned by value. If the Output variable(s) read-only field shows exactly one output variable, it will be used as the return value. If the selection outputs several variables, these variables will be returned as an array.    * Parameter(s) passed by reference - select this option to have the output variables returned by reference. IntelliJ IDEA will generate a method/function without a return statement. Instead, the output variables will be added to the set of input parameters in the method/function declaration. The names of these variables will be prepended with an ampersand `&`.     > **Note:** > The area is available only when refactoring is invoked in the PHP context.    |
| Parameters |    In this area, select parameters to be passed to the new method/function.      > **Tip:** > If a parameter that is critical for the functionality of the new method is not selected, IntelliJ IDEA will be unable to proceed with the refactoring.    |
| Move Up/Down | Use these buttons to change the order of the parameters. |
| Signature preview | In this read-only field, view the declaration of the new method. |

## See also

### Procedures

[Extract method](extract-method.html)