How to Use Named Return Values in Go

Named return values in Go are declared in the function signature and automatically returned if the function exits without an explicit return statement. You can assign values to them anywhere in the function body, and they act as local variables that are returned by default.

func divide(a, b float64) (quotient, remainder float64) {
	quotient = a / b
	remainder = a % b
	// Returns (quotient, remainder) implicitly
}

If you need to return early or change the values, use the return keyword with or without arguments to send the current values of the named returns back to the caller.

Named return values let you define the names of your function's outputs right in the function header instead of just their types. This acts like a shorthand where you can assign values to these names throughout your code, and the function automatically sends them back when it finishes. Think of it like pre-labeling boxes before you pack them; once you're done packing, the boxes are ready to ship without needing to re-label them at the door.