Explicitly calling return in a function or not

📝 The Explicit Return Debate: To Call or Not to Call? 🤷‍♀️

Are you confused about whether to explicitly call the 'return' statement in your functions or not? 🤔 Don't worry, you're not alone! It's a controversial topic that has sparked many debates in the programming community. In this blog post, we'll dive deep into this issue, address common concerns, and provide easy solutions to help you make an informed decision. Let's get started! 💪

⚠️ The Situation: A Friendly Rebuke ⚠️

The journey begins with a user seeking advice on Stack Overflow. They shared a snippet of code involving the use of 'return' at the end of a function. Interestingly, a member of the R core team, Simon Urbanek, chimed in and recommended an alternative approach. 🙌

🤔 The Query: To 'Return' or Not to 'Return'? 😕

Our user, perplexed by this suggestion, asked a valid question: "Why is not calling 'return' faster or better, and thus preferable?" 🤷‍♂️ It's an excellent inquiry, deserving a thorough explanation. Let's dig deeper to understand the rationale behind this suggestion. 💡

🔍 The Case for Not Calling 'Return' 🔍

The primary argument against explicitly calling 'return' unless strictly necessary revolves around readability and code cleanliness. In many cases, omitting the 'return' statement can make your code more concise and easier to understand. Let's compare both approaches using examples. 📝

🗒️ Example 1: Simplicity is Key 🗒️

Consider this function using explicit 'return':

foo = function() {
  return(value)
}

Instead, you can achieve the same result without using 'return':

foo = function() {
  value
}

By omitting 'return,' you streamline the code, removing unnecessary clutter and making it more straightforward. 🚀

🗒️ Example 2: Conditional Clarity 🗒️

Now, let's examine a situation that requires conditional statements:

foo = function() {
  if(a) {
    return(a)
  } else {
    return(b)
  }
}

Although using 'return' here is necessary, you can refactor the code to improve readability:

foo = function() {
  if(a) {
    a
  } else {
    b
  }
}

Removing unnecessary 'return' statements in the else blocks simplifies the code without sacrificing functionality. 👌

🌟 The Power of Implicit 'Return' 🌟

By letting go of explicit 'return' statements, you unlock the power of implicit 'return.' In many programming languages, the last expression evaluated within a function is automatically considered the return value. This behavior not only reduces code verbosity but also enhances readability. 😎

💡 The Solution: Use Your Discretion 💡

Now that we've explored both sides of the debate, it's time to provide you with a practical solution. Ultimately, the decision to explicitly call 'return' or not should be based on the specific context and clarity of your code. Consider the following guidelines:

1️⃣ When returning a value that depends on a condition or is deeply nested, using 'return' explicitly can improve code readability.

2️⃣ For simple functions or scenarios where the last expression serves as the desired return value, omitting 'return' can lead to cleaner and more elegant code. 🌟

Remember, readability and maintainability should be paramount when making this decision. 💯

🙏 The Call-to-Action: Share Your Thoughts! 🙏

What's your take on this 'return' debate? Do you prefer explicit or implicit 'return' statements? We'd love to hear your experiences and insights! Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion. Let's learn from each other and grow as a coding community. 🌐💬

🚀 Happy coding, and remember, whether to 'return' or not to 'return' is a choice only you can make! 🙌✨