RETURN Statement

The RETURN statement immediately ends the execution of the subprogram or anonymous block that contains it.

In a function, the RETURN statement assigns a specified value to the function identifier and returns control to the invoker, where execution resumes immediately after the invocation (possibly inside the invoking statement). Every execution path in a function must lead to a RETURN statement (otherwise, the PL/SQL compiler issues compile-time warning PLW-05005).

In a procedure, the RETURN statement returns control to the invoker, where execution resumes immediately after the invocation.

In an anonymous block, the RETURN statement exits its own block and all enclosing blocks.

A subprogram or anonymous block can contain multiple RETURN statements.

Topics

• Syntax

• Semantics

• Examples

• Related Topics

Syntax

return_statement ::=

See "expression ::=".

Semantics

expression

Optional when the RETURN statement is in a pipelined table function. Required when the RETURN statement is in any other function. Not allowed when the RETURN statement is in a procedure or anonymous block.

The RETURN statement assigns the value of expression to the function identifier. Therefore, the data type of expression must be compatible with the data type in the RETURN clause of the function. For information about expressions, see "Expression".

Examples

• Example 8-3, "Execution Resumes After RETURN Statement in Function"

• Example 8-4, "Function Where Not Every Execution Path Leads to RETURN Statement"

• Example 8-5, "Function Where Every Execution Path Leads to RETURN Statement"

• Example 8-6, "Execution Resumes After RETURN Statement in Procedure"

• Example 8-7, "Execution Resumes After RETURN Statement in Anonymous Block"

Related Topics

In this chapter:

• "Block"

• "Function Declaration and Definition"

• "Procedure Declaration and Definition"

In other chapters:

• "RETURN Statement"