Thread: void return

  1. #1
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    void return

    Hello..

    Is it smart to return; when void ends?

    For instance:

    Code:
    void somefunction() {
      dosomething();
      return;
    }

  2. #2
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    It's not smart. It's kinda like giving an answer when not being asked. It's the type of thing that puts you into trouble in the army.

    However, in C++ the return statement is ignored. No error issued, but may give you a gentle warning... which is always good.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  3. #3
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    return with no return value is absolutely proper way to exit void function
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  4. #4
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Didn't even notice the absence of a value. However, are you sure Vart? I always was lead to believe the proper way was to not use the return statement.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  5. #5
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    No error issued, but may give you a gentle warning... which is always good.
    A warning would be strange, since a return statement without an expression used in a function that does not return a value is legal according to the C++ Standard.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  6. #6
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mario F.
    Didn't even notice the absence of a value. However, are you sure Vart? I always was lead to believe the proper way was to not use the return statement.
    yes, I'm sure
    http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/k68ktdwf.aspx
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  7. #7
    Its hard... But im here swgh's Avatar
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    Look at the two examples

    Code:
    void functionA ( void )
    {
       cout << "Red is hot";
    }
    Code:
    void funcionB ( void )
    {
       cout << "Yellow is gold";
    
       return;
      
       cout << "Opps, returned above this cant be read\n";
    }
    The first is ok, as is the second use of return. A void function that takes no
    parameters and returns no value like the two above give the programmer the
    "option" to use return without a value to exit the function. If, like iin the second example, any statement is written under the return, it will not be read. As I am sure you are aware, using return is the proper way to exit a function and return to its caller ie: main. Void functions can have no return statement, like the first example. and like mario suggested, this is perfecly ok too. Usually, if or if not the programmer chooses to add a return statement is a personal preference. Many texts teach to use return to end a void function, although leaving it out makes little difference, as the program will automaticly end the function at the closing brace.
    Double Helix STL

  8. #8
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Well, ok. But...

    When the flow of control exits the block enclosing the function definition, the result is the same as it would be if a return statement with no expression had been executed. This is illegal for functions that are declared as returning a value.
    Proper way would be standard enforced. And the standard does not enforce it. It states it can or cannot be used on the case of void functions.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  9. #9
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    if the return; is the last statement in the void function you can freely avoid it...

    but in most cases it is useful in cases like:
    Code:
    void str_cpy(char* a, char* b)
    {
       if(a == b) return; //nothing to do
    
    //here goes the work
    }
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  10. #10
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Absolutely. On that I agree.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  11. #11
    Its hard... But im here swgh's Avatar
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    Vart is your avatar somthing to do with the film the sixth sense?
    Double Helix STL

  12. #12
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by swgh
    Vart is your avatar somthing to do with the film the sixth sense?
    yes, something to do
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  13. #13
    Its hard... But im here swgh's Avatar
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    Cool. Good film, I like M Nightshalymans films. Yoi cant beat unbreakable though for suspense
    Double Helix STL

  14. #14
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    It's not necessary to use a return statement before the closing brace of the definition of main() either - if it reaches the end without seeing a return statement, it returns 0 automatically.

  15. #15
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    At best it returns void. Not 0.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

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