return - Man Page

return from a function or dot script

Prolog

This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux implementation of this interface may differ (consult the corresponding Linux manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may not be implemented on Linux.

Synopsis

return [n]

Description

The return utility shall cause the shell to stop executing the current function or dot script. If the shell is not currently executing a function or dot script, the results are unspecified.

Options

None.

Operands

See the Description.

Stdin

Not used.

Input Files

None.

Environment Variables

None.

Asynchronous Events

Default.

Stdout

Not used.

Stderr

The standard error shall be used only for diagnostic messages.

Output Files

None.

Extended Description

None.

Exit Status

The value of the special parameter '?' shall be set to n, an unsigned decimal integer, or to the exit status of the last command executed if n is not specified. If n is not an unsigned decimal integer, or is greater than 255, the results are unspecified. When return is executed in a trap action, the last command is considered to be the command that executed immediately preceding the trap action.

Consequences of Errors

Default.

The following sections are informative.

Application Usage

None.

Examples

None.

Rationale

The behavior of return when not in a function or dot script differs between the System V shell and the KornShell. In the System V shell this is an error, whereas in the KornShell, the effect is the same as exit.

The results of returning a number greater than 255 are undefined because of differing practices in the various historical implementations. Some shells AND out all but the low-order 8 bits; others allow larger values, but not of unlimited size.

See the discussion of appropriate exit status values under exit.

Future Directions

None.

See Also

Section 2.9.5, Function Definition Command, Section 2.14, Special Built-In Utilities, dot

Referenced By

dot(1p).

2017 IEEE/The Open Group POSIX Programmer's Manual