# Does anyone know what the return block does
**URL:** https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912
**Category:** Help
**Created:** [July 12, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912 "2026-07-12T20:45:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sword\_Studios](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Sword_Studios)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/1 "2026-07-12T20:45:34Z")
I have no idea what it does and it is driving me nuts
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### Author:  [@VoxelMaster64](https://forum.makecode.com/u/VoxelMaster64)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/2 "2026-07-13T17:13:00Z")
It is how you return a value in a function!
> **[return block](https://arcade.makecode.com/S61833-72071-92121-16622)**
>
> Made with ❤️ in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade.
Look inside the project, and you can figure out how it works.
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### Author:  [@ScriptScraper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/ScriptScraper)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/3 "2026-07-13T17:16:26Z")
so a return block is supposed to be used inside a function, but it has other uses too. So let’s say you have a function, and at the end of it, it has “return 0”. That function can now be used as a number for if statements, math blocks, etc. It exists so that you can condense complex formulas into a single statement. For example, you can have a function that calculates the player’s position or something, and have it return that value at the end. You can simply use that function as a number instead of copying the entire formula. If you click the minus button in the return block, it’ll return nothing. This can be used anywhere, and all it does is just exit the current function/block immediately. It’s not necessary, but it can be used to cut down on large if/else blocks.
hope this helps!
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### Author:  [@Astro](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Astro)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/4 "2026-07-13T17:19:28Z")
It lets you turn functions into the oval blocks you put in number parts
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### Author:  [@KawaiiGoddess](https://forum.makecode.com/u/KawaiiGoddess)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/5 "2026-07-13T17:19:52Z")
Returns the function itself.
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### Author:  [@CodaKnight](https://forum.makecode.com/u/CodaKnight)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/6 "2026-07-13T17:19:59Z")
Yeah, the `return` block doesn’t really make sense when you first see it.
Think of it like asking someone a question. If you ask, “What’s 2 + 3?”, the answer they give back is **5**. A function with a `return` works the same way—it sends a value back to whatever called it.
For example, if you have a function that calculates a player’s score, using `return` lets the function give that score back so you can use it somewhere else in your code.
So instead of just _doing_ something, a function with `return` _gives something back_.
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### Author:  [@TheEarth](https://forum.makecode.com/u/TheEarth)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/7 "2026-07-20T20:39:54Z")
@Richard what are the actual name for them I always called them bubbles but I’ve heard oval and circle too
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### Author:  [@richard](https://forum.makecode.com/u/richard)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/8 "2026-07-21T16:41:06Z")
the official name is the somewhat cumbersome “reporter blocks”, which i’ve always hated.
i just call 'em blocks with return values, or sometimes “expression” blocks
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### Author:  [@Sword\_Studios](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Sword_Studios)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-the-return-block-does/44912/9 "2026-07-24T17:45:18Z")
OMG richard just talk on my post.