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Rahul Nayak
1,221 PointsWhat is the significance of return statement?
def add(a, b)
puts "Adding #{a} and #{b}:"
return a + b
end
add (2,3)
When it is tried to invoke add function with 2,3 parameters, it would not give me the result but only "Adding 2 and 3:". I don't understand why it does not return the sum of a+b and what is the real significance of using a return statement if I can simply use puts or print? Basically I did not understand return statement :(
2 Answers
Justin Horner
Treehouse Guest TeacherHello Rahul,
The point of the return statement is to return a value to the caller of the function. In the code you have provided, the sum of a and b are being returned but not used by your calling code. Here's an example of how you could use the return value.
def add(a, b)
puts "Adding #{a} and #{b}:"
return a + b
end
sum = add (2,3)
puts "Now I have the sum of 2 and 3 (#{sum}) available outside the method"
I hope this helps.
Rahul Nayak
1,221 Pointsgot it now !! Thanks a lot Justin Horner .
Justin Horner
Treehouse Guest TeacherYou're welcome!
Rahul Nayak
1,221 PointsRahul Nayak
1,221 PointsI will quote your words "the sum of a and b are being returned but not used by your calling code.". If I understood this correctly, it means that when I call the function, the sum is calculated but not displayed because I have not asked for it. Right?
Justin Horner
Treehouse Guest TeacherJustin Horner
Treehouse Guest TeacherYes, you're right. The function is calculating the sum of a and b but you were not storing the returned value in a variable. In the code I shared you'll notice I stored the value returned from the function in a variable called sum.
Rahul Nayak
1,221 PointsRahul Nayak
1,221 Pointsgot it now !! Thanks a lot Justin Horner .