Return Statement

In Python, the return statement is used to exit a function and return a value back to the caller. When a function is called and the return statement is encountered, the function immediately terminates, and the specified value (or None if no value is provided) is sent back to the calling code.

Syntax:

def function_name(parameters):
    # Function body

    # Optional: Return statement
    return expression

• function_name: The name of the function.
• parameters: Optional parameters that the function may take.
• return: Keyword indicating the start of the return statement.
• expression: The value to be returned to the caller.

Example:

def add_numbers(x, y):
    result = x + y
    return result

# Calling the function and capturing the returned value
sum_result = add_numbers(3, 5)

# Using the returned value
print("Sum:", sum_result)

In this example, the add_numbers function takes two parameters (x and y). Inside the function, the sum of x and y is calculated and assigned to the variable result. The return result statement sends the value of result back to the caller.

Use Cases of return Statement:

1. Returning a Value:
   • The primary use of return is to provide the result or output of a function back to the calling code.
2. Exiting Early:
   • return is also used to exit a function prematurely if certain conditions are met.
3. Returning Multiple Values:
   • Multiple values can be returned as a tuple or other data structures.
4. Returning None:
   • If no value is specified after return, the function returns None by default.

Example with Multiple Returns:

def divide_numbers(x, y):
    if y == 0:
        return "Cannot divide by zero"
    else:
        quotient = x / y
        remainder = x % y
        return quotient, remainder

# Calling the function and capturing the returned values
result = divide_numbers(10, 3)

# Using the returned values
print("Quotient:", result[0])
print("Remainder:", result[1])

In this example, the divide_numbers function returns a tuple containing the quotient and remainder of the division. The calling code can capture these values and use them as needed.

Understanding how to use the return statement allows you to create functions that provide meaningful results and enhance code modularity.