Python return statement error " 'return' outside function"

Question

When running the following code (in Python 2.7.1 on a mac with Mac OS X 10.7)

while True:
    return False

I get the following error

SyntaxError: 'return' outside function

I've carefully checked for errant tabs and/or spaces. I can confirm that the code fails with the above error when I use the recommended 4 spaces of indentation. This behavior also happens when the return is placed inside of other control statements (e.g. if, for, etc.).

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

What the interpreter says, you're not inside a function. Control statements aren't functions, you define a function with def. — Lara Bailey
– Lara Bailey, Commented Oct 20, 2011 at 20:56
I use yield which gives me the same error, reason is the same, shall be in a function.. — user2558887
– user2558887, Commented Jul 29, 2014 at 9:41

Raymond Hettinger · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-20 21:05:09Z

69

The return statement only makes sense inside functions:

def foo():
    while True:
        return False

answered Oct 20, 2011 at 21:05

Raymond Hettinger

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5 Comments

PaulMcG Over a year ago

Raymond, did you get so many rep points that your counter rolled back over to 0?

Hovercraft Full Of Eels Over a year ago

@PaulMcGuire: your comment confuses me.

agf Over a year ago

@PaulMcGuire His account has only existed for three days.

Jeff Over a year ago

I will be naming name my first child @Raymond-Hettinger

Edwinner Over a year ago

I have been losing sleep over this

Antonio · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-13 16:55:36Z

36

Use quit() in this context. break expects to be inside a loop, and return expects to be inside a function.

edited Oct 13, 2017 at 16:55

Antonio

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answered Feb 9, 2014 at 2:09

buzzard51

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1 Comment

Guillem Cucurull Over a year ago

This works in case you just want to stop the script, as you would do with a void return. I'd rather use sys.exit() though, because then an exit status can be specified. Check this question: stackoverflow.com/questions/543309/…

Jürgen Strobel · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-20 21:45:38Z

12

To break a loop, use break instead of return.

Or put the loop or control construct into a function, only functions can return values.

answered Oct 20, 2011 at 21:45

Jürgen Strobel

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Comments

Eugene Yarmash · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-28 22:13:34Z

3

As per the documentation on the return statement, return may only occur syntactically nested in a function definition. The same is true for yield.

answered Mar 28, 2017 at 22:13

Eugene Yarmash

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