(PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)
return returns program control to the calling module.
Execution resumes at the expression following the called module's invocation.
If called from within a function, the return
statement immediately ends execution of the current function, and
returns its argument as the value of the function
call. return also ends the execution of
an eval() statement or script file.
If called from the global scope, then execution of the current
script file is ended. If the current script file was
included or required,
then control is passed back to the calling file. Furthermore, if
the current script file was included, then
the value given to return will be returned as
the value of the include call. If
return is called from within the main script
file, then script execution ends. If the current script file was
named by the auto_prepend_file or auto_append_file
configuration options in php.ini,
then that script file's execution is ended.
For more information, see Returning values.
Note: Note that since
returnis a language construct and not a function, the parentheses surrounding its argument are not required and their use is discouraged.
Note: If no parameter is supplied, then the parentheses must be omitted and
nullwill be returned. Callingreturnwith parentheses but with no arguments will result in a parse error.
As of PHP 7.1.0, return statements without an argument in functions which declare a return type trigger E_COMPILE_ERROR,
unless the return type is void, in which case return statements
with an argument trigger that error.
for those of you who think that using return in a script is the same as using exit note that: using return just exits the execution of the current script, exit the whole execution.
look at that example:
a.php
<?php
include("b.php");
echo "a";
?>
b.php
<?php
echo "b";
return;
?>
(executing a.php:) will echo "ba".
whereas (b.php modified):
a.php
<?php
include("b.php");
echo "a";
?>
b.php
<?php
echo "b";
exit;
?>
(executing a.php:) will echo "b".Note that because PHP processes the file before running it, any functions defined in an included file will still be available, even if the file is not executed.
Example:
a.php
<?php
include 'b.php';
foo();
?>
b.php
<?php
return;
function foo() {
echo 'foo';
}
?>
Executing a.php will output "foo".