Dynamic

Return Values vs Void Functions

Developers should master return values to write clean, predictable functions that avoid global state mutations and improve code maintainability meets developers should use void functions when they need to execute code for its side effects rather than for computation, such as logging, updating global variables, or performing i/o operations. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Return Values

Developers should master return values to write clean, predictable functions that avoid global state mutations and improve code maintainability

Return Values

Nice Pick

Developers should master return values to write clean, predictable functions that avoid global state mutations and improve code maintainability

Pros

  • +They are crucial in scenarios like data processing, API responses, and mathematical computations, where functions need to produce results for further use
  • +Related to: functions, parameters-arguments

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Void Functions

Developers should use void functions when they need to execute code for its side effects rather than for computation, such as logging, updating global variables, or performing I/O operations

Pros

  • +They are essential in procedural and object-oriented programming for organizing code into reusable blocks that perform specific tasks without returning data, improving code modularity and readability
  • +Related to: functions, procedural-programming

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Return Values if: You want they are crucial in scenarios like data processing, api responses, and mathematical computations, where functions need to produce results for further use and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Void Functions if: You prioritize they are essential in procedural and object-oriented programming for organizing code into reusable blocks that perform specific tasks without returning data, improving code modularity and readability over what Return Values offers.

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The Bottom Line
Return Values wins

Developers should master return values to write clean, predictable functions that avoid global state mutations and improve code maintainability

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev