haXe Forum > [inline] What are "final returns"?

• Alex Sep 06 at 18:52

  Hello, guys!

  I have read an article Inline and have been confused by "final returns" term. What does it means? And why next code is refused?

  inline function baz(flag)
  {
      if( flag )
          return 0;
      return 1;
  } // refused

  
  What is significant difference with next accepted code?
  

  inline function bar(flag)
  {
      if( flag )
          return 0;
      else
      return 1;
  } // accepted

  regards,
  Alex

• Liburn Sep 07 at 23:06

  First code is refused because you must define return value at one place, for example this will not work:

  public static inline function bar(flag1, flag2)
  {
  if (flag1) return 1;

  if (flag2) return 2;
  else return 0;
  }

  but this will

  public static inline function bar(flag1, flag2)
  {
  if (flag1) return 1;
  else if (flag2) return 2;
  else return 0;
  }

  so "final returns" are returns which must be final.

• Drakim Sep 09 at 17:48

  If you are in doubt as to if a return is final or not, just think in these terms:

  "Is there anything happening after this return?"

  If yes, it's not a final return, if no, it's is a final return.

  In your first example it's not a final return because there is another return futher down.

  In your second example it's a final return because after the whole "if" is done, there is nothing else that is happening. (if/else if/else counts as one big thing)

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