What is what does it mean when it says?

The phrase "return" in a programming context generally refers to the process of a function or method providing a value back to the part of the code that called it. When a function returns something, it's essentially sending information back as a result of its operation.

Here's a breakdown:

• Functions/Methods: These are self-contained blocks of code designed to perform a specific task. They often take input (arguments/parameters) and produce output.

• Return Values: The value that a function sends back to the calling code. A function may or may not return a value. If a function doesn't explicitly return a value (e.g., in some languages if you just use return;), it might implicitly return null, None, or void depending on the programming language.

• Purpose of Returning: The purpose of returning is to pass the result of a calculation, data manipulation, or a status indicator back to the part of the program that needs it. This allows for modular and reusable code.

• Example:

  def add(x, y):
      result = x + y
      return result
  
  sum_of_numbers = add(5, 3)  # The add function *returns* 8
  print(sum_of_numbers) # Output: 8
  

  In this example, the add function returns the sum of x and y. The calling code receives this returned value and assigns it to the sum_of_numbers variable.

• Data Types: The value returned can be of any data type, such as integers, strings, lists, objects, etc., depending on what the function is designed to produce.

• Control Flow: The return statement also affects the control flow of the program. When a return statement is executed, the function immediately terminates, and control is passed back to the calling code. Any code within the function after the return statement will not be executed.