Return statement, what exactly does it mean?

Question

1.00/5 (1 vote)

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Hi there...

What exactly will the return do in this case...

C#

private void Method1 ()
{
   //some code here
   Method2(var1,var2);
}

private void Method2 (string var1,string var2)
{
    counter ++;
    
    if(counter < 3)
    {
       if(condition1 == condition2)
       {
           counter = 0;
           Method3();
           return;
       }
       if(condition1 != condition2)
       {
           //go back to method1 and try again
           Method1();
       }
    }
}

Posted 9-Jan-12 20:36pm

SharksRTB

Updated 9-Jan-12 20:45pm

v3

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Comments

Ganesan Senthilvel 10-Jan-12 2:42am

Are you looking for the logic or functionality of return?

SharksRTB 10-Jan-12 2:46am

Well.... Both? I want to go straigt to method3 if(condition1 == condition2) is true.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 10-Jan-12 2:56am

OK, I answered how return works, but as to functionality -- you need to understand one big chunk of computer functionality. I prefer the "gray box" method; black box does not work effectively. Please see my answer.
--SA

3 solutions

Solution 3

From the answers you've see so far, you could not get a right idea of return. Try to read and understand this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_stack[^].

—SA

Posted 9-Jan-12 20:52pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

Mehdi Gholam 10-Jan-12 3:05am

5'ed

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 10-Jan-12 3:15am

Thank you, Mehdi.
--SA

Mehdi Gholam 10-Jan-12 3:14am

Congratulations on your MVP!

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 10-Jan-12 3:15am

Thank you very much. You too!
--SA

Mehdi Gholam 10-Jan-12 3:33am

Cheers Sergey!

Solution 1

Hi, return statement here means go out from Method2

Posted 9-Jan-12 20:41pm

Robby Tendean

Comments

SharksRTB 10-Jan-12 2:47am

Yes... go out from method2... But does it mean go out of method2 and return to the caller which is method1?

SharksRTB 10-Jan-12 2:48am

Because if condition1 == condition2 is true, i dont want to go back to method1 and execute again, i just want to get out?

Robby Tendean 10-Jan-12 2:54am

Agree with Mehdi Gholam, it will return you to Method1() and continue to run code below Method2(var1,var2); but since your code has nothing there so eventually it will go out from Method1() as well.

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Mehdi Gholam · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-09T20:47:00

Solution 2

A return statement means relinquish control of the currently executing code to the calling method, i.e. exit what you are doing in this method and go back to the next statement in who ever was calling from.

In your case the return in Method2 will go back to Method1 and since there is no more code in Method1, Method1 will finish also.

Posted 9-Jan-12 20:47pm

Mehdi Gholam

Comments

SharksRTB 10-Jan-12 2:54am

You are indeed correct, and i agree with you.. See, if(condition1 != condition2) is true, I want to go back to method1 and execute the code again, subsequently, entering method2 again. But I only want to do this 2 times, hence my if statement on top , if(counter < 3). But if(condition1 == condition2) is true, i want to go to method3 and get out. Now in my code most of the times if(condition1 == condition2) is true, but then it goes to method3 twice...

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 10-Jan-12 2:54am

This is hard to explain in two short paragraphs. I'm afraid, the whole idea remains unexplained.
I found appropriate short article, please see my answer.
--SA