🌮 What is a Return Value?

In C++, a function is like a chef in a restaurant. When you call (or "order") the function, you expect it to "prepare something" and "send it back" to you. The return value is what the function gives back to the person (or code) that called it.

Analogy: Imagine you go to a restaurant and order a pizza 🍕.

You ask: "Give me a pizza." The chef makes the pizza and sends it back to you. In C++ terms, this pizza is the return value.

🍔 How Do You Determine the Data Type of a Return Value?

In C++, every function must specify what type of data it will return—whether it’s an int, float, string, or any other type. This is done in the function definition.

Analogy: If you know you are ordering a drink, you expect a drink like water or soda—not a burger. Similarly, in C++, when you call a function with int as the return type, you know it will give back an integer value.