C++ The Return Keyword

Return Values

The void keyword, used in the previous examples, indicates that the function should not return a value. If you want the function to return a value, you can use a data type (such as int, string, etc.) instead of void, and use the return keyword inside the function:

int myFunction(int x) {
  return 5 + x;
}

int main() {
  cout << myFunction(3);
  return 0;
}

// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)

This example returns the sum of a function with two parameters:

int myFunction(int x, int y) {
  return x + y;
}

int main() {
  cout << myFunction(5, 3);
  return 0;
}

// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)

You can also store the result in a variable:

int myFunction(int x, int y) {
  return x + y;
}

int main() {
  int z = myFunction(5, 3);
  cout << z;
  return 0;
}
// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)