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JustSam
JustSam

Reputation: 41

Return values of functions

I have two functions:

Function1
{
    Function2
    return 1
}

Function2
{
    return 0
}

After executing Function1 it should return 1, but it returns 0. Why is that?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 23190

Answers (2)

Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson

Reputation: 3622

PowerShell "return values" don't really work the way you'd be used to from other languages. The important thing to remember is that all output is captured and returned. The return statement is basically just a logical exit point.

For example:

Function Return-Zero {
    return 0
}

Function Return-One {
    Return-Zero
    return 1
}

Return-One

Since the return value of Return-Zero was not stored in a variable, it is part of the output. Running the above will have the output:

0
1

...which is probably what you're getting. If you store the return of Return-Zero in a variable, it is not part of the output.

Function Return-Zero {
    return 0
}

Function Return-One {
    $var = Return-Zero
    return $var
}

Return-One

Output of the above is 0.

Upvotes: 11

mjolinor
mjolinor

Reputation: 68263

Are you sure it continues to run, and that it only returns 0? It should return 0 (the return from function 2), then return 1, and exit.

Upvotes: 0

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