What is return 0 in c?

In C, the "return 0" statement is commonly used at the end of a function to indicate successful completion of the function or program. Here are some key points about "return 0" in C:

  1. Return Value: In C, functions can have a return value. The value returned by a function can be of any built-in data type, such as int, float, char, etc. When a function has a return type of int, returning 0 means the function is returning an integer value of zero.

  2. Success Indicator: Returning 0 from the main function is a convention used to indicate that the program has executed successfully without any errors. When a C program terminates normally, it typically returns 0 to indicate success to the operating system.

  3. Error Codes: Apart from 0, functions can also return non-zero values to indicate different error conditions or messages. By convention, a non-zero return value usually signifies some kind of error or abnormal termination of a program.

  4. Program Termination: When the main function returns 0, it signifies the end of the program. The operating system generally interprets this as a successful program execution. If the program terminates with a non-zero value, it may indicate an error or an unsuccessful execution.

  5. Testing and Debugging: Return values can be helpful for testing and debugging purposes. For example, a programmer can use return 0 to test the basic functionality of a simple function before implementing more complex features.

  6. Standard Library Functions: Many standard library functions in C also use return values. By convention, a return value of 0 usually means the function has executed successfully, while non-zero values often represent specific error codes or conditions.

Overall, "return 0" is a common practice in C to indicate successful completion of a function or program and to follow conventions for error handling and program termination.