A return statement ends the processing of the current function and returns control to the caller of the function.
A value-returning function should include a return statement, containing an expression.
If an expression is not given on a return statement in a function declared with a non-void return type, the compiler issues a warning message.
If an expression is not given on a return statement in a function declared with a non-void return type, the compiler issues an error message.
If the data type of the expression is different from the function return type, conversion of the return value takes place as if the value of the expression were assigned to an object with the same function return type.
For a function of return type void, a return statement is not strictly necessary. If the end of such a function is reached without encountering a return statement, control is passed to the caller as if a return statement without an expression were encountered. In other words, an implicit return takes place upon completion of the final statement, and control automatically returns to the calling function.
If a return statement is used, it must not contain an expression.
The following are examples of return statements:
return; /* Returns no value */
return result; /* Returns the value of result */
return 1; /* Returns the value 1 */
return (x * x); /* Returns the value of x * x */
int match(int number, int array[ ], int n)
{
int i;
for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
if (number == array[i])
return (i);
return(-1);
}
A function can contain multiple return statements.
For example: void copy( int *a, int *b, int c)
{
/* Copy array a into b, assuming both arrays are the same size */
if (!a || !b) /* if either pointer is 0, return */
return;
if (a == b) /* if both parameters refer */
return; /* to same array, return */
if (c == 0) /* nothing to copy */
return;
for (int i = 0; i < c; ++i;) /* do the copying */
b[i] = a[1];
/* implicit return */
}
In this example, the return statement
is used to cause a premature termination of the function, similar
to a break statement.An expression appearing in a return statement is converted to the return type of the function in which the statement appears. If no implicit conversion is possible, the return statement is invalid.