# Function return values


 # What is a return value

When starting out with functions, it can sometimes be hard to wrap your head around them. Some functions produce a return value, and others don't. Therefore, it's important to determine whether or not your function returns a value. In simpler terms, return values are the values that a function produces when it completes its execution.

```
// An example of a function with a return value

const favoriteFood = "My favorite fruit are watermelons";

//The new value using the replace string function 
const newString = favoriteFood.replace("watermelons", "apples");

console.log(newString); // My favorite fruit are apples
console.log(favoriteFood); // My favorite fruit are watermelons

// the string function replace() takes two arguments 
// the first is the string to be replaced 
// the second is the new string 
```

In the above example, understanding the return value of the [replace()](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/replace#return_value) string function is imperative to comprehend what the code does.

# How to use return values

To obtain a value from your custom function, you need to use the ***return*** keyword.
for example:
```
// The multiply function

function multiply(a, b) {
    return a * b;
}

multiply(2, 3); //6
// The above function returns the multiplication of two parameters a and b
```
A simple analogy that helps understand this concept is to imagine yourself baking a cake. In this process, each step of the recipe is like a function. For instance, when measuring the amount of sugar, the measurements act as return values that can be used in the next step.

In summary, a return value is the result you get after completing a task, and you can then use that value for subsequent tasks.

**For documentation**

> [MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Return_values)
> [W3school](https://www.w3schools.com/jsref/jsref_return.asp)