Return Values and Returning Multiple Values

In Python, a function can return a value to the caller using the return statement. Returning a value means passing the result of the function’s computation back to the place where the function was called.

1.) Using return Statement:

• The return statement ends the function’s execution and sends back a value (or values) to the caller.

Example – Returning a Single Value:

def add(a, b):
    return a + b

result = add(3, 4)
print(result)  # Output: 7

Explanation:

• The function add() takes two arguments and returns their sum.
• The return statement gives back the result, which is stored in the variable result.

2.) Returning Multiple Values:

• Python functions can return multiple values by separating them with commas. Internally, these values are returned as a tuple.

Example – Returning Multiple Values:

def operations(x, y):
    return x + y, x - y, x * y

sum_, diff, prod = operations(10, 5)
print(sum_, diff, prod)  # Output: 15 5 50

Explanation:

• The function operations() performs three arithmetic operations and returns all three results at once.
• The values returned are unpacked into three separate variables: sum_, diff, and prod.