modify method argument or return in java
<p>I have seen this method in android source code.</p>

<pre><code> protected LocaleConfiguration doInBackground(Void... unused) {
                    LocaleConfiguration localeConfiguration = new LocaleConfiguration();
                    readConfiguration(Launcher.this, localeConfiguration);
                    return localeConfiguration;
                }
 private static void readConfiguration(Context context, LocaleConfiguration configuration) {
        DataInputStream in = null;
        try {
            in = new DataInputStream(context.openFileInput(PREFERENCES));
            configuration.locale = in.readUTF();
            configuration.mcc = in.readInt();
            configuration.mnc = in.readInt();
        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
            // Ignore
        } catch (IOException e) {
            // Ignore
        } finally {
            if (in != null) {
                try {
                    in.close();
                } catch (IOException e) {
                    // Ignore
                }
            }
        }
    }
</code></pre>

<p>why not something like this</p>

<pre><code> private static LocaleConfiguration readConfiguration(Context context) {
        LocaleConfiguration configuration = new LocaleConfiguration();
        DataInputStream in = null;
        try {
            in = new DataInputStream(context.openFileInput(PREFERENCES));
            configuration.locale = in.readUTF();
            configuration.mcc = in.readInt();
            configuration.mnc = in.readInt();
        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
            // Ignore
        } catch (IOException e) {
            // Ignore
        } finally {
            if (in != null) {
                try {
                    in.close();
                } catch (IOException e) {
                    // Ignore
                }
            }
        }
        return configuration;
    }
</code></pre>

<p>what is the advantage of modifying argument instead of returning new value</p>
