Return string in Java does nothing in compiler

first time poster and Java newbie. I am working on practice code to skill up. The problem I am running into is that return new_string; does not return any value to my compiler.

My goal is to reverse a string from "def" to "fed."

In this example (below), the value of new_string is not returned. Literally, the console appears blank.

public class ReverseString {



public String reverse(String input) {

    String new_string = "";

    int iterator = 0;

    int length = input.length();



        while(iterator < length){

            char string_input = input.charAt(iterator);

            new_string = string_input + new_string;

            iterator ++;

        }

    return new_string;

}





public static void main(String[] args){

    ReverseString test = new ReverseString();

    test.reverse("def");

}

}

However, when I change my code to do a system print, I get the correct result "fed."

public class ReverseString {



public void reverse(String input) {

    String new_string = "";

    int iterator = 0;

    int length = input.length();



        while(iterator < length){

            char string_input = input.charAt(iterator);

            new_string = string_input + new_string;

            iterator ++;

        }

    System.out.println(new_string);

}





public static void main(String[] args){

    ReverseString test = new ReverseString();

    test.reverse("def");

}

}

Any help would be much appreciated. Searched everywhere for an answer but could not figure this out!