A method can compute and return a value to its calling program. The return statement specifies an expression whose type must match the return type specified for the method and whose value is computed and returned to the calling program.

• Pattern:

  return expression;

  where:
  • expression is a valid expression whose type is the same as (or is compatible with) the specified return type of the containing method.

• As an example, consider the return statement in computeDistance() , which computes and returns the Euclidean distance between the x-y coordinates received from the calling program. The control flow (see the arcs labelled 1-5) proceeds as follows:

  1. It starts in the calling program,
  2. passes to the method when the method is called,
  3. proceeds through the method statements,
  4. hits the return statement, which passes control back to the calling program,
  5. and finally the calling program uses the returned value to compute the value of its diameter and proceeds on through the calling program.