Last Updated : 10 Dec, 2024
A return statement is used to end the execution of the function call and it "returns" the value of the expression following the return keyword to the caller. The statements after the return statements are not executed. If the return statement is without any expression, then the special value None is returned. A return statement is overall used to invoke a function so that the passed statements can be executed.
Example:
Python
def add(a, b):
# returning sum of a and b
return a + b
def is_true(a):
# returning boolean of a
return bool(a)
# calling function
res = add(2, 3)
print(res)
res = is_true(2<5)
print(res)
Explanation:
Let's explore python return statement in detail:
Syntax:def function_name(parameters):
# Function body
return value
When the return statement is executed, the function terminates and the specified value is returned to the caller. If no value is specified, the function returns None by default.
Note:
Returning Multiple ValuesNote: Return statement can not be used outside the function.
Python allows you to return multiple values from a function by returning them as a tuple:
Example:
Python
def fun():
name = "Alice"
age = 30
return name, age
name, age = fun()
print(name)
print(age) # Output: 30
In this example, the fun() function returns two values: name and age. The caller unpacks these values into separate variables.
Returning ListWe can also return more complex data structures such as lists or dictionaries from a function:
Python
def fun(n):
return [n**2, n**3]
res = fun(3)
print(res)
In this case, the function fun() returns a list containing the square and cube of the input number.
Function returning another functionIn Python, functions are first-class citizens, meaning you can return a function from another function. This is useful for creating higher-order functions.
Here's an example of a function that returns another function:
Python
def fun1(msg):
def fun2():
# Using the outer function's message
return f"Message: {msg}"
return fun2
# Getting the inner function
fun3 = fun1("Hello, World!")
# Calling the inner function
print(fun3())
Message: Hello, World!
Suggested Quiz
7 Questions
What is the primary purpose of a return statement in a function?
To initiate a function call
To terminate the program
To end the execution of the function and return a value
To define the function parameters
In Python, what happens if a return statement is executed without an expression?
The function continues executing
The function raises an error
The function returns a default value of None
The function returns the last executed statement
How can a function return multiple values in Python?
By using multiple return statements
By returning a list or tuple
By returning a dictionary only
By using global variables
What will be the output of the following code?
def my_function():
return 5
result = my_function()
print(result)
Explanation:
return statement returns the value 5 from the function my_function(). The returned value is assigned to result and printed.
What will happen if a function contains a return statement followed by unreachable code?
The unreachable code will execute
The function will raise an exception
The unreachable code will be ignored
The function will return an error
What will be the output of the following code?
def check_number(num):
if num > 0:
return "Positive"
else:
return "Non-positive"
print(check_number(5))
Non-positive
Positive
None
Error
Explanation:
check_number function checks if the input is positive. Since the argument is 5, it returns "Positive".
What will be the output of the following code?
def my_function():
return 1
return 2
result = my_function()
print(result)
Explanation:
In the my_function function, the first return 1 statement terminates the function, so the second return 2 is never reached. Thus, the returned value is 1.
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