Return Type

In computer programming, the return type (or result type) defines and constrains the data type of the value returned from a subroutine or method. In many programming languages (especially statically-typed programming languages such as C, C++, Java) the return type must be explicitly specified when declaring a function.

In the Java example:

public int someMethod

the return type is int. The program can therefore rely on the method returning a value of type int. Various mechanisms are used for the case where a subroutine does not return any value, e.g., a return type of void is used in some programming languages:

public void returnNothing

Famous quotes containing the words return and/or type:

    “Real kindness seeks no return;
    What return can the world make to rain clouds?”
    —Tiruvalluvar (c. 5th century A.D.)

    “The Republican form of government is the highest form of government; but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature—a type nowhere at present existing.”
    —Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)