The return statement is used inside a function to send a value back to the caller. It ends the function's execution.

 Syntax

def function_name():
   return value

• value can be any Python object: number, string, list, dict, etc.
• If no return is specified, the function returns None.

Example 1: Basic Return

def greet():
   return "Hello"
message = greet()
print(message)

Output:

Hello

Example 2: Return a Calculation

def add(a, b):
   return a + b
result = add(3, 4)
print("Sum:", result)

Output:

Sum: 7

Example 3: Return Multiple Values

def stats(a, b):
   return a + b, a * b
sum_val, product = stats(3, 4)
print("Sum:", sum_val)
print("Product:", product)

Output:

Sum: 7
Product: 12

Python functions can return multiple values as a tuple.

Example 4: Early Return

def check_age(age):
   if age < 18:
       return "Too young"
   return "Allowed"
print(check_age(15))
print(check_age(20))

Output:

Too young
Allowed

Example 5: No Return = None

def no_return():
   print("I do not return anything")
result = no_return()
print(result)

Output:

I do not return anything
None

return vs print

Real-World Use Case

def is_even(n):
   return n % 2 == 0
nums = [1, 2, 3, 4]
evens = list(filter(is_even, nums))
print(evens)

Output:

[2, 4]

Summary

• return ends the function and sends data back.
• You can return any data type.
• Returning multiple values is allowed (as a tuple).
• A function without return returns None.

Practice Task

Write a function that returns both square and cube of a number:

def power(n):
   return n**2, n**3
sq, cb = power(3)
print("Square:", sq)
print("Cube:", cb)

Output:

Square: 9
Cube: 27