Return

How it is used

Used all the time when describing code: 'it returns null', 'it returns a list of users'. The noun 'return value' is common too. 'Return early' means leaving a function as soon as a condition is met, to avoid deeply nested code.

Example sentences

1. If the user isn't found, the method returns null instead of throwing an error.

2. You can return early here and skip the whole else block.

Common collocations

• return a value
• return null
• return early
• return value
• return type

Related terms

• functionA named block of code that does one job. It can take input values, and it often returns a result to the code that called it.
• methodA function that belongs to a class or object and usually works with that object's data, for example user.save() or list.sort().
• callTo make a function, method or API run from another part of the code. As a noun, 'a call' is one such request, for example 'an API call'.
• variableA name in a program that stores a value, such as a number, text or list, so that the code can use or change that value later.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• return · E-commerce
• return · Customer Service
• return · Investing & the Stock Market

More terms: Programming Concepts

• codebase
• library
• loop
• class
• parameter
• IDE
• compile
• string
• boolean
• object
• argument
• if statement