[Chapter 6] 6.10 The return Statement
Author: Mark Grand
Date: Thu Jul 31 13:14:41 1997

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| Chapter 6 Statements and Control Structures |

## 6.10 The return Statement

A `return` statement returns control of the current method or constructor to the caller:

If a `return` statement does not contain an expression, the statement must be in a method declared with the `void` return type or in a constructor. Otherwise, the compiler issues an error message. When a `return` statement does not contain an expression, the statement simply attempts to transfer control back to the method or constructor that invoked the current method or constructor.

If a `return` statement contains an expression, it must be in a method that returns a value or the compiler issues an error message. The type of the expression must be assignment-compatible with the declared return type of the method. The `return` statement attempts to transfer control back to the method or constructor that invoked the current method. The value produced by the expression is the return value of the current method.

Here's an example of a `return` statement:

    int doubleIt (int k) {
        return k*2;
    }

If a `return` statement occurs inside a `try` statement, control may not immediately transfer to the invoking method or constructor. If a `try` statement has a `finally` clause, the `finally` block is executed before control leaves the `try` statement for any reason. This means that if a `return` statement occurs inside a `try` statement (but not in its `finally` block), the `finally` block is executed first, before the control transfer can take place.

If the `finally` block contains a `break`, `continue`, `return`, or `throw` statement, the pending control transfer for the previously executed `return` statement is forgotten. Instead, control is transferred to the target of the `break`, `continue`, `return`, or `throw` statement in the `finally` block.

If the `finally` block does not contain a `break`, `continue`, `return`, or `throw` statement, the pending control transfer happens after the `finally` block is done executing, unless there is another enclosing `try` statement. If there is such a `try` statement and it has a `finally` clause, that `finally` block is also executed before the control transfer can take place. Execution proceeds in this manner until control is transferred to the invoking method or constructor.

References Constructors; Expression 4; Identifiers; Methods; The break Statement; The continue Statement; The throw Statement; The try Statement

The continue Statement |  | The throw Statement