What does 'return' do in a function?

• A. Ends the function
• B. Outputs a value
• C. Creates a loop
• D. Declares a variable

Answer: (B)

In programming, the 'return' statement serves multiple critical functions within a function context. Primarily, it outputs a value back to the point at which the function was called. This allows the result of computations within the function to be utilized in other parts of the code.

When a function is executed, it may perform a series of operations and at the end, it can send back a specific value to the caller. For instance, if a function calculates the sum of two numbers, when 'return' is utilized at the conclusion of this function, it will provide that sum to whatever invoked the function. This mechanism of returning values is fundamental to creating reusable code blocks where results from operations can be dynamically passed around and used.

While 'return' does indeed end the function's execution, its primary purpose is to produce and pass back a value. Consequently, other options such as creating a loop or declaring a variable are not functionalities associated with the 'return' statement.