What should main() return in C++?

In C++, the main() function should return an integer value.

The integer value returned by main() represents the exit status of the program to the operating system. A return value of 0 typically indicates that the program executed successfully, while a non-zero value indicates that an error occurred during the program's execution.

If the main() function does not explicitly return a value, the C++ standard dictates that it implicitly returns 0, indicating successful execution. However, it is considered good practice to explicitly return a value from main() to clearly indicate the program's exit status.

Here's an example of the main() function returning 0 to indicate successful program execution:

int main() {
    // Program logic
    return 0;
}