What does return; mean in main() function?

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4.00/5 (1 vote)

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Hi,
I have a little confusion.
What is the meaning/purpose of return; in main() function in below example.

Sample C# code.

static void Main(string[] args){
     .... some code
     return;   // What does this mean??

}

Thanks in Advance.

Posted 13-Apr-11 9:34am

web works

Updated 13-Apr-11 9:41am

v2

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Nish Nishant · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-13T09:55:00

Solution 3

This example may help you understand where it might be needed:

C#

static void Main(string[] args)
{
  // some code here
 
  if(someFlag) // exit if flag is set
  {
    return;
  }
 
  // some more code here
 
}

Posted 13-Apr-11 9:55am

Nish Nishant

Updated 13-Apr-11 9:57am

v2

Comments

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 13-Apr-11 15:59pm

That was exactly what I meant in my comment to JSOP's solution. 5+

web works 14-Apr-11 9:06am

Thank Much All. 5 from me !

#realJSOP · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-13T09:36:00

Solution 1

Since main() returns an int, it needs a return statement, and it should have a value after it that is of the appropriate type.

Go here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0fwzzxz2(v=vs.80).aspx[^]

BTW, in .Net 4, when you create a new console app, the return type in main() is void, so no return statement is needed. I think you can change the return type though, but I've never tried it.

Calling return; in a method that doesn't return a value doesn't serve any purpose. You can safely remove it.

Posted 13-Apr-11 9:36am

#realJSOP

Updated 13-Apr-11 9:44am

v3

Comments

web works 13-Apr-11 15:40pm

Opps.. Sorry i need to correct my question. Thanks

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 13-Apr-11 15:53pm

Doesn't return; mean exactly that: To exit from a method that has void as it's return type?

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 13-Apr-11 15:55pm

I'm always for constructing a method that only has a single point of exit, but sometimes it makes the code overly verbose and returning from several places in your code can alleviate that problem.
What do you think?

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 17:44pm

I guess, no need to check up if it's correct or not :-), changing Question does not matter; just 5.
--SA

web works 14-Apr-11 9:06am

Thank Much All. 5 from me !

Manfred Rudolf Bihy · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-13T09:38:00

Solution 2

It means that the program will exit. Since main is declared as returning an int (program exit code) return should really be something like return 1; instead. This return code or program exit code can be evaluated by programs that started your executable to check if it operated correctly or if an error had caused program termination.

Main is also called a program entry point.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers!

-MRB

Posted 13-Apr-11 9:38am

Manfred Rudolf Bihy

Updated 13-Apr-11 9:40am

v2

Comments

web works 13-Apr-11 15:43pm

I have corrected my question. It is actually void, not int !!

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 13-Apr-11 15:51pm

Then just forget about that exit code I talked about. It merely means that the program will exit. :)

web works 13-Apr-11 15:54pm

So, it would not return anything and just exit the code correct?

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 13-Apr-11 15:59pm

Correct! :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-11 17:43pm

RTFM missed. He he. A 5.
--SA

web works 14-Apr-11 9:06am

Thank Much All. 5 from me !