return statement in C/C++ with Examples

Pre-requisite: Functions in C/C++

The return statement returns the flow of the execution to the function from where it is called. This statement does not mandatorily need any conditional statements. As soon as the statement is executed, the flow of the program stops immediately and returns the control from where it was called. The return statement may or may not return anything for a void function, but for a non-void function, a return value must be returned.

Syntax:

return[expression];

There are various ways to use return statements. Few are mentioned below:

1. Methods not returning a value: In C/C++ one cannot skip the return statement, when the methods are of return type. The return statement can be skipped only for void types.
   • Not using return statement in void return type function: When a function does not return anything, the void return type is used. So if there is a void return type in the function definition, then there will be no return statement inside that function (generally).

     Syntax:

     void func()
     {
         .
         .
         .
     }
     

     Example:
     

     C

     // C code to show not using return
     // statement in void return type function
     
     #include <stdio.h>
     
     // void method
     void Print()
     {
         printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks");
     }
     
     // Driver method
     int main()
     {
     
         // Calling print
         Print();
     
         return 0;
     }

     C++

     // C++ code to show not using return
     // statement in void return type function
     
     #include <iostream>
     using namespace std;
     
     // void method
     void Print()
     {
         printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks");
     }
     
     // Driver method
     int main()
     {
     
         // Calling print
         Print();
     
         return 0;
     }
     Output:

     Welcome to GeeksforGeeks
     

   • Using return statement in void return type function: Now the question arises, what if there is a return statement inside a void return type function? Since we know that, if there is a void return type in the function definition, then there will be no return statement inside that function. But if there is a return statement inside it, then also there will be no problem if the syntax of it will be:

     Correct Syntax:

     void func()
     {
         return;
     }
     

     This syntax is used in function just as a jump statement in order to break the flow of the function and jump out of it. One can think of it as an alternative to “break statement” to use in functions.

     Example:
     

     C

     // C code to show using return
     // statement in void return type function
     
     #include <stdio.h>
     
     // void method
     void Print()
     {
         printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks");
     
         // void method using the return statement
         return;
     }
     
     // Driver method
     int main()
     {
     
         // Calling print
         Print();
         return 0;
     }

     C++

     // C++ code to show using return
     // statement in void return type function
     
     #include <iostream>
     using namespace std;
     
     // void method
     void Print()
     {
         printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks");
     
         // void method using the return statement
         return;
     }
     
     // Driver method
     int main()
     {
     
         // Calling print
         Print();
         return 0;
     }
     Output:

     Welcome to GeeksforGeeks
     

     But if the return statement tries to return a value in a void return type function, that will lead to errors.

     Incorrect Syntax:

     void func()
     {
         return value;
     }
     

     Warnings:

     warning: 'return' with a value, in function returning void
     

     Example:
     

     C

     // C code to show using return statement
     // with a value in void return type function
     
     #include <stdio.h>
     
     // void method
     void Print()
     {
         printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks");
     
         // void method using the return
         // statement to return a value
         return 10;
     }
     
     // Driver method
     int main()
     {
     
         // Calling print
         Print();
         return 0;
     }

     C++

     // C++ code to show using return statement
     // with a value in void return type function
     
     #include <iostream>
     using namespace std;
     
     // void method
     void Print()
     {
         printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks");
     
         // void method using the return
         // statement to return a value
         return 10;
     }
     
     // Driver method
     int main()
     {
     
         // Calling print
         Print();
     
         return 0;
     }
     Warnings:

     prog.c: In function 'Print':
     prog.c:12:9: warning: 'return' with a value, in function returning void
       return 10;
              ^
     

2. Methods returning a value: For methods that define a return type, the return statement must be immediately followed by the return value of that specified return type.

   Syntax:

   return-type func()
   {
       return value;
   }
   

   Example:
   

   C

   // C code to illustrate Methods returning
   // a value using return statement
   
   #include <stdio.h>
   
   // non-void return type
   // function to calculate sum
   int SUM(int a, int b)
   {
       int s1 = a + b;
   
       // method using the return
       // statement to return a value
       return s1;
   }
   
   // Driver method
   int main()
   {
       int num1 = 10;
       int num2 = 10;
       int sum_of = SUM(num1, num2);
       printf("The sum is %d", sum_of);
       return 0;
   }

   C++

   // C++ code to illustrate Methods returning
   // a value using return statement
   
   #include <iostream>
   using namespace std;
   
   // non-void return type
   // function to calculate sum
   int SUM(int a, int b)
   {
       int s1 = a + b;
   
       // method using the return
       // statement to return a value
       return s1;
   }
   
   // Driver method
   int main()
   {
       int num1 = 10;
       int num2 = 10;
       int sum_of = SUM(num1, num2);
       cout << "The sum is " << sum_of;
       return 0;
   }
   Output:

   The sum is 20