returnlause

Returnlause is a programming construct referring to the statement that ends a function and returns a value to the caller. It is used to transfer control back to the point from which the function was invoked and, optionally, to supply a result to the caller.

In execution, a returnlause evaluates its accompanying expression (if any) and then terminates the current function. The value of the expression becomes the function’s result for the caller. In languages with explicit return types, the returned value must be compatible with the function’s declared return type. Some languages allow a bare return to exit a void or unit function without yielding a value.

Variations across languages include how many returnlause can appear in a function, whether a return is required in all control paths, and how an absence of an explicit return is handled. For example, in many C-like languages a function with a non-void return type must end with a return that provides a value, while a void function may use return with no value to exit early. In Python, a return with a value exits the function and returns that value; a bare return or the end of the function returns None.

Best practices around returnlause focus on clear control flow and avoiding deeply nested conditionals. Using early returns can improve readability, but excessive or unpredictable returns may complicate debugging.