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Return[expr]

returns the value expr from a function.

Return[]

returns the value Null.

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Return

Return[expr]

returns the value expr from a function.

Return[]

returns the value Null.

Details

  • Return[expr] exits control structures within the definition of a function, and gives the value expr for the whole function.
  • Return takes effect as soon as it is evaluated, even if it appears inside other functions.
  • Return can be used inside functions like Scan.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (1)

Return from a function:

Wolfram Language code: f[x_] := (If[x > 5, Return[a]];x + 3)
Wolfram Language code: f[6]

Possible Issues  (1)

Return exits only the innermost construct in which it is invoked:

Wolfram Language code: f[x_] := (If[x > 5, Return[a]];x)
Wolfram Language code: f[6]

Here it exits the Do loop, but not the function g:

Wolfram Language code: g[x_] := (Do[If[x > 5, Return[a]], {3}];x)
Wolfram Language code: g[6]

Use Catch and Throw for explicit flow control:

Wolfram Language code: h[x_] := Catch[Do[If[x > 5, Throw[a]], {3}];x]
Wolfram Language code: h[6]
Wolfram Research (1988), Return, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Return.html (updated 1996).

Text

Wolfram Research (1988), Return, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Return.html (updated 1996).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1988. "Return." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 1996. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Return.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1988). Return. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Return.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_return, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Return}", year="1996", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Return.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_return, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Return}, year={1996}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Return.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}