Multiple return

Learn Go's multiple return and named return features.

Multiple return values

Go functions can return several values. The most common use is the (result, error) pair:

func bolKalan(a, b int) (int, int) {
    return a / b, a % b
}

bolum, kalan := bolKalan(17, 5)
fmt.Println(bolum, kalan)  // 3 2

If you don't need a value, skip it with _: _, kalan := bolKalan(17, 5).

Named return values

Return values can be named; the names are variables declared with zero values at the start of the function, and a bare return returns them:

func minMax(s []int) (min, max int) {
    min, max = s[0], s[0]
    for _, v := range s {
        if v < min { min = v }
        if v > max { max = v }
    }
    return
}

It helps documentation in short functions; in long functions bare returns make reading harder.

Exercise Minimum and maximum

Write minMax(s []int) (min, max int) with named returns. Print the result of minMax([]int{4, 9, 1, 7}).

Show example solution

package main

import "fmt"

func minMax(s []int) (min, max int) {
    min, max = s[0], s[0]
    for _, v := range s {
        if v < min {
            min = v
        }
        if v > max {
            max = v
        }
    }
    return
}

func main() {
    fmt.Println(minMax([]int{4, 9, 1, 7}))
}

Test yourself

Why do you discard an unused return value with <code>_</code>?
- It runs faster
- The value is reset
- It isn't required, it doesn't matter
- Go gives a compile error for an unused local variable
Show answer

Go gives a compile error for an unused local variable — A declared but unused variable is an error in Go; the blank identifier _ shows you are ignoring the value on purpose.

Skip a value

____, kalan := bolKalan(17, 5)

Show answer

_, kalan := bolKalan(17, 5)

Syntax

(int, int)

Two return types
(min, max int)

Named returns
return

Bare return
_

Ignore the value

Next lesson: Variadic functions

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