What is the purpose of a return statement in a function?

Question

A return statement in a function looks like this.

def test(func, arg):
return func(func(arg))
def mult(x)
return x * x
print(test(mult, 2))

Okay so according to the Python course this is higher order function. Which basically takes other functions as arguments, or return them as results. Which I can understand.

However, what is the purpose of the return statement? Now if I comment that out and use pass (Just to see how the code will react) i get None.

def test(func, arg):
pass
#return func(func(arg))
def mult(x)
return x * x
print(test(mult, 2))

Output>>> None

So, is the return statement doing something on the backend, unseen?

Now, I read online that return statement returns when function is called.

So, is the print function calling the function or the return?

Answer 1

The return creates a result of your function, a result which may be used elsewhere within your code.

Print makes the return of the function visible to the user.

Answer 2

erica price print is calling your test function which accepts two values.
A return statement is always used to get something back from the function you call or else there is no point in calling a function unless it returns or prints something for you.

Answer 3

erica price please forgive me if I make syntax mistake since I do not know Python. But take this for your understanding. For eg-

def add(a,b):
return a+b

print(add(10,20))

Now see the above code where add is a function which is called inside print because you want to print the result that's it.
You pass 10 and 20 to add function, so now you are expecting a value back from the function to print it right? That is what the return statement do. In this case it is returning 10+20=30.
So your print statement gives 30 as output.

Answer 4

Return is a statement that does 2 things:
~Terminates the function call.
~Returns a value to the position where the function was called.

Answer 5

Okay so a function has to be called either by a return statement or print function or both in order to retrieve some output to be shown visibly? And thanks to the both of you Rik Wittkopp and Avinesh.

Answer 6

erica price No you cannot call a function using return statement. The return statement is generally the end of a function itself. And if you use return in between the function then your rest of the code inside the function will not execute.

Answer 7

Okay. Thanks Avinesh

Answer 8

Thanks Avinesh and Seb TheS that makes sense I am looking to not only learn to code but to learn why. I believe in understanding the code rather than it is what it is. You know? So thanks for the help everyone. More questions to come! 😁