The return statement in JavaScript is used to end the execution of a function and return a value from that function.

Return in Functions

In functions, the return statement ends the function execution and specifies a value to be returned to the function caller.

Here’s an example:

function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

let sum = add(5, 3); // sum will be 8

In this example, the add function returns the sum of a and b. The returned value is then stored in the sum variable.

Return Without a Value

If the return statement is used without a value, the function will stop executing and return undefined.

function greet() {
  console.log('Hello, Junaid');
  return;
}

let result = greet(); // result will be undefined

Early Exit

The return statement can also be used to stop the execution of a function early.

function isPositive(number) {
  if (number < 0) {
    return false;
  }
  // Some other code here...
  return true;
}

In this example, if number is less than 0, the function returns false immediately and the rest of the code is not executed.

The return statement is a powerful tool in JavaScript. It controls the flow of a function and allows values to be passed from a function back to where it was called. Understanding how to use the return statement effectively is crucial to writing good JavaScript code.