why do we need return 0 in c?

In the C programming language, the return 0 statement is commonly used at the end of the main function. It serves as an indication that the program has executed successfully and is now terminating. The value 0 typically represents a successful execution, while non-zero values may indicate errors or specific conditions.

The return 0 statement is not always necessary in C programs. If the main function does not explicitly include a return statement, the C standard assumes that the program has executed successfully and will implicitly return 0. However, it is considered good practice to include the return 0 statement to make the program's termination explicit and to enhance code readability.

Including the return 0 statement can also be useful when a program is being called by another program or script. The calling program can check the return value to determine if the called program executed successfully or encountered an error.

Here's an example of how the return 0 statement can be used in a C program:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    // Program logic goes here

    return 0;
}

In this example, the return 0 statement indicates that the program has executed successfully and is now terminating.