How to: Return a Value from a Procedure (Visual Basic)

A Function procedure returns a value to the calling code either by executing a Return statement or by encountering an Exit Function or End Function statement.

To return a value using the Return statement

1. Put a Return statement at the point where the procedure's task is completed.

2. Follow the Return keyword with an expression that yields the value you want to return to the calling code.

3. You can have more than one Return statement in the same procedure.

   The following Function procedure calculates the longest side, or hypotenuse, of a right triangle, and returns it to the calling code.

   VB

   Function Hypotenuse(side1 As Double, side2 As Double) As Double
       Return Math.Sqrt((side1 ^ 2) + (side2 ^ 2))
   End Function
   

   The following example shows a typical call to hypotenuse, which stores the returned value.

   VB

   Dim testLength, testHypotenuse As Double
   testHypotenuse = Hypotenuse(testLength, 10.7)
   

To return a value using Exit Function or End Function

1. In at least one place in the Function procedure, assign a value to the procedure's name.

2. When you execute an Exit Function or End Function statement, Visual Basic returns the value most recently assigned to the procedure's name.

3. You can have more than one Exit Function statement in the same procedure, and you can mix Return and Exit Function statements in the same procedure.

4. You can have only one End Function statement in a Function procedure.

   For more information and an example, see "Return Value" in Function Statement.

See also

• Procedures
• Sub Procedures
• Property Procedures
• Operator Procedures
• Procedure Parameters and Arguments
• Function Statement
• Return Statement
• How to: Create a Procedure that Returns a Value
• How to: Call a Procedure That Returns a Value