javascriptloopsreturn

Does return stop a loop?

If I have the following for loop


    for (var i = 0; i < SomeArrayOfObject.length; i++) {
    
      if (SomeArray[i].SomeValue === SomeCondition) {

         var SomeVar = SomeArray[i].SomeProperty;
         return SomeVar;
      }
    }

Does the return statement stop the function's execution?

Solution

  • Yes, functions always end whenever their control flow meets a return statement.

    The following example demonstrates how return statements end a function’s execution.

    function returnMe() {
  for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    if (i === 1) return i;
  }
}

console.log(returnMe());

    Notes: See this other answer about the special case of try–catch–finally and this answer about how the forEach callback has its own function scope, so it will not break out of the containing function.