return use in c++

The return statement in C++ is used to exit a function and optionally return a value to the calling code. When the return statement is encountered within a function, the function stops executing, and control is returned to the point from where the function was called.

Syntax:

return; // Used in functions returning void (no value)
return expression; // Used in functions returning a value of a specific type

Explanation:

1. return;
2. Used in functions that do not return a value (void functions).

3. It simply exits the function and returns control to the calling code without any value.

4. return expression;

5. Used in functions that have a return type other than void.
6. expression can be a variable, a constant, an operation, or any valid expression that evaluates to the function's return type.
7. This statement exits the function and passes the value of expression back to the calling code.

Example:

int add(int a, int b) {
    int result = a + b;
    return result; // Returns the sum of a and b
}

void showMessage() {
    std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
    return; // Exits the function without returning any value
}

In the example above: - add is a function that takes two integers as parameters, calculates their sum, stores it in result, and then returns result using the return statement. - showMessage is a function that simply displays "Hello, World!" and uses return; to exit the function without returning any value because it has a return type of void.