return statement in Python

What is the return Statement? The return statement is used inside a function to send a value back to the place where the function was called.

When Python executes a return statement:
• It exits the function immediately.
• It returns the specified value (if any) to the caller.

Syntax

def function_name(parameters):
    # function body
    return expression

• expression → the value or result that we want the function to give back.
• If there is no return, the function automatically returns None.

The return statement cannot be used outside of the function.

Example: Returning a Single Value

Python

# Function definition
def add_numbers(a, b):
    result = a + b
    return result  # returning the result to the caller

# Function call
sum_value = add_numbers(10, 5)
print("Sum is:", sum_value)

Output: Sum is: 15

Explanation: • When return result executes, the function ends and gives back 15 to the variable sum_value.

Example: Function Without return.

Python

def greet(name):
    print("Hello", name)

result = greet("Ashish")
print(result)

Output: Hello Ashish
None

Explanation: • Since there’s no return, Python automatically returns None.

Example: Returning Multiple Values. We can return multiple values separated by commas — Python automatically packs them into a tuple.

Python

def calculate(a, b):
    sum_ = a + b
    diff = a - b
    return sum_, diff  # returning two values

# Function call
result = calculate(10, 5)
print(result)          # Output: (15, 5)

# You can also unpack the values
sum_value, difference = calculate(10, 5)
print("Sum:", sum_value)
print("Difference:", difference)

Output: (15, 5)
Sum: 15
Difference: 5

Example: Using return to Exit a Function Early We can use return to stop execution before reaching the end of a function.

Python

def divide(a, b):
    if b == 0:
        return "Cannot divide by zero!"  # early return
    return a / b

print(divide(10, 2))  # Output: 5.0
print(divide(10, 0))  # Output: Cannot divide by zero!

Key Points to Remember

You can have multiple return statements, but only one is executed per call.
When a return executes, the function stops immediately.
A function that doesn’t explicitly return something gives None.
You can return any data type: number, string, list, tuple, dictionary, even another function.

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