What is Return in Python

In Python return is a statement used end the execution of the function call and “returns” the result (value of the expression following the return keyword) to the caller. The statements after the return statements are not executed. If the return statement is without any expression, then the value None is returned.

Syntax:

def fun():
    statements
    .
    .
    .
    return [expression]

Example:

def square(n):
	if n < 0 :
		return
	else:
		return n*n

re = square(5)
print("The square of 5 is ", re)

re = square(-1)
print("The square of -1 is ", re)


def color(c):
	if c == 'red':
		return "the color is red"

cl = color('red')
print(cl)

Output:

The square of 5 is  25
The square of -1 is  None
the color is red

A return statement can not be used outside a function. If used outside a function, it will raise a SyntaxError.

>>> def sq(n):
...     return n*n
>>> sq(4)
16
>>> return sq(4)
  File "<stdin>", line 1
SyntaxError: 'return' outside function
>>>