VB.NET Language in a Nutshell, Second Edition

Name

Return Statement

Syntax

In a subroutine:

Return

In a function:

Return ReturnValue

ReturnValue (required; any)

The return value of the function

Description

Returns to the calling program from a subroutine or function

Rules at a Glance

• If the Return statement appears in a function, it must specify a return value for the function.

• Return causes program flow to leave the function or subroutine and return to the calling program; any statements in the function or subroutine that follow Return are not executed.

Example

Public Sub Main

Dim d As Double = GetNumbers(  )
Console.WriteLine("The sum of values is " & d)

End Sub

Public Function GetNumbers As Double

Dim iCtr As Integer = 1
Dim sInput As String
Dim dblNums(9), dblSum, dblTemp As Double

Do
   sInput = InputBox("Enter number " & iCtr & ": ", "Sum")
   If sInput = "" Then
      if iCtr = 1 Then Return 0
       Exit Do
    End If
    If IsNumeric(sInput) Then
       dblNums(iCtr - 1) = CDbl(sInput)
      iCtr = iCtr + 1
   End If
Loop While iCtr <= 9

' Sum array elements
for each dblTemp in dblNums
   dblSum += dblTemp
next

return dblSum

End Function

Programming Tips and Gotchas

Return is identical in operation to the Exit Sub statement: it prematurely transfers control from a procedure to the calling routine. It is also similar to the Exit Function statement; while it prematurely transfers control out of the function, it also allows a particular value to be returned by the function.

VB.NET/VB 6 Differences

In VB 6, Return is a legacy statement that returns control after GoSub has invoked ...