Return Statement

Return Statement

1. What It Does (beginner)

return = send a value back + exit the method immediately. Two jobs: give answer, stop method. In void methods, bare return; just exits early.

2. Code — Value + Early Exit

public class Ret {
    static int square(int x) {
        return x * x; // sends 25 back, method ends HERE
        // System.out.println("never!"); // unreachable ERROR!
    }
    static void check(int marks) {
        if (marks < 0) return; // early exit on bad input (no value!)
        System.out.println(marks >= 40 ? "Pass" : "Fail");
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int s = square(5); // s = 25
        System.out.println(s);
        check(-5);  // prints nothing (early return!)
        check(75);  // Pass
    }
}

3. Rules (exam traps!)

• Return type must match: int method must return intValue; on every path (missing in else = ERROR).
• void method: return; ok (no value), return 5; ERROR.
• Code after return = unreachable, compile ERROR.

4. return vs break vs continue

return exits method (whole function ends). break exits loop/switch. continue skips one iteration.

5. Exam Points

• Method with return + early-exit void — 5 marks, frequent.
• Missing-return / unreachable errors — 3 marks, frequent trap.