RETURN Statement

The RETURN statement immediately completes the execution of a subprogram and returns control to the caller. Execution resumes with the statement following the subprogram call. In a function, the RETURN statement also sets the function identifier to the return value. See "Using the RETURN Statement".

Syntax

return statement ::=

Description of the illustration return_statement.gif

Keyword and Parameter Description

expression

A combination of variables, constants, literals, operators, and function calls. The simplest expression consists of a single variable. When the RETURN statement is executed, the value of expression is assigned to the function identifier.

Usage Notes

The RETURN statement is different than the RETURN clause in a function spec, which specifies the datatype of the return value.

A subprogram can contain several RETURN statements. Executing any of them completes the subprogram immediately. The RETURN statement might not be positioned as the last statement in the subprogram. The RETURN statement can be used in an anonymous block to exit the block and all enclosing blocks, but the RETURN statement cannot contain an expression.

In procedures, a RETURN statement cannot contain an expression. The statement just returns control to the caller before the normal end of the procedure is reached. In functions, a RETURN statement must contain an expression, which is evaluated when the RETURN statement is executed. The resulting value is assigned to the function identifier. In functions, there must be at least one execution path that leads to a RETURN statement. Otherwise, PL/SQL raises an exception at run time.

Examples

For examples, see the following:

Example 1-13, "Creating a Package and Package Body"
Example 2-15, "Using a Subprogram Name for Name Resolution"
Example 5-44, "Returning a Record from a Function"
Example 6-43, "Declaring an Autonomous Function in a Package"
Example 6-48, "Calling an Autonomous Function"
Example 9-3, "Creating the emp_admin Package"