When you run a set of instructions on your program and it displays not all code paths return a value, it’s an error message. It is caused because the compiler has hit the end of the function without the return statement. The return statement ends the execution of the function and returns a value to the calling function.
If you want to know why you keep receiving the error message, our coding experts are here to help you out!
Why Is Your System Displaying Not All Code Paths Return a Value?
Your system is displaying that not all code paths return a value error because there should be at least one route that returns a value to the caller but, in this case, there is no route through your function that returns a value. The error message means that the compiler found a way to hit the end of the function without a return statement that tells it what it’s supposed to return.
Another cause of the warning message appearing can be caused if there is no return statement in your code.
– What Happens if There Is No Return Statement in Your Code?
If no return statement appears in a function definition, control automatically returns to the calling function after the last statement of the called function is executed. In this case, the return value of the called function is undefined. If the function has a return type other than void, it’s a serious bug, and the compiler displays an error message.
We recommend that you always use a plain return statement to make your intent clear.
How To Solve This Error
The warning message is common for almost all programming languages such as Lambda, JavaScript, jQuery, C#, PHP, PowerShell 5, and so on.
So, to fully cover the error, we will consider some examples of this error for a couple of programming languages.
– Example 1: Fixing the Error While Using C# Program
Here is an example of a code path that does not return a value resulting in an error when using c# to program:
public bool FindItem(GameObject item)
{
for (int i = 0; i < MyInventory.Length; i++)
{
if (MyInventory[i] == item)
{
//we found the item
return true;
}
//if item not found
return false;
}
}
Result:
Assets/Script/Items/InventoryScript.cs(35,17):error CS0161: `InventoryScript.FindItem(UnityEngine.GameObject)’: not all code paths return a value eslint
Solution:
public bool FindItem(GameObject item) {
return System.Array.IndexOf(MyInventory, item) >= 0;
}
Result:
Assets/Script/Items/InventoryScript.cs(35,17): error CS0161: `InventoryScript.FindItem(UnityEngine.GameObject)’: not all code paths return a value
Problem: The error here is that for loop, we set I = 0. In this case, the test failed because I < My inventory. length which isn’t valid as zero is not less than zero. Since the test failed, the function exits the for loop immediately without checking the following code and not returning true or false. And here we see the error message because we haven’t encountered a return statement.
To fix this problem, we will need to move the return false statement outside the loop to the very end of the function. The loop will check whether the item is in MyInventory [0], and if not, it will always return false before it gets a chance to check MyInventory [1]. We will want to return true if and only if the program ran through the whole array and didn’t find the item, not immediately after a single mismatch.
We recommend you use this solution:
Solution:
public bool FindItem(GameObject item) {
return System.Array.IndexOf(MyInventory, item) >= 0;
}
– Example 2: Not All Code Paths Return a Value For C#
Here is another example if you receive this error message when using c# to program.
We will run a program on the bool value function to see the error.
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
bool myChoice = true;
while (myChoice)
{
myChoice = ChoiceGame();
}
}
private static bool ChoiceGame()
{
char Choice;
string Con = “y”;
Console.WriteLine(“What is the command keyword to exit a loop in C#?”);
Console.WriteLine(“a. Quit”);
Console.WriteLine(“b. Continue”);
Console.WriteLine(“c. break”);
Console.WriteLine(“d. exit”);
while (Con == “y”)
{
Console.WriteLine(“Enter Your Choice:”);
Choice = (char)Console.Read();
if (Choice == ‘c’)
{
Console.WriteLine(“Congratulations”);
return false;
}
else if (Choice == ‘a’ || Choice == ‘b’ || Choice == ‘d’)
{
Console.WriteLine(“Incorrect”);
Console.WriteLine(“Again?press y to continue”);
Con = Console.ReadLine().ToString();
return true; }
else
{
Console.WriteLine(“Invalid choice”);
return false;
}
}
}. (solution here)
}
Result: not all code paths return a value c#
Solution: Here in the function, we are returning value for if and else if and then for else. In the if-else statement we selected “c”, “a”, “b”, “d”. There is a logical error here – the compiler doesn’t understand that we will always be in a while loop, and this is why it is showing an error.
After the else returns false, the function should return the while loop false.
– Example 3: Fixing the Error While in JavaScript
If you receive the error message while using JavaScript, it means that in your program there is an instance where your return statement is not returning a value to the calling function.
Let’s consider an example where the set of instructions leads to an error and the possible solution.
document.getElementById(‘search_field’).onkeypress = function(e) {
if (!e) e = window.event;
var keyCode = e.keyCode || e.which;
if (keyCode == ’13’) {
window.location.href = ‘/search/?s=’ + $(‘#search_field’).val();
return false;
}
};
We know that the last bracket will show you an error if you try it, indicating that there is a problem with the code.
To solve the error, try returning the if statement true.
Possible solution:
document.getElementById(‘search_field’).onkeypress = function(e) {
if (!e) {
e = window.event;
}
var keyCode = e.keyCode || e.which;
if (keyCode == ’13’) {
window.location.href = ‘/search/?s=’ + $(‘#search_field’).val();
return false;
}
return true;
};
– Example 4: Fixing the Error While Using Typescript
Let’s consider another example – a Typescript code path that does not return a value, resulting in an error.
public MakeMove(board: Board): boolean {
var pos = this.clickedPosition;
this.clickedPosition = null;
if (null === pos) {
return false;
}
if (this.id === pos.player) {
if (board.GetStones(pos) > 0) {
var finalDrop = board.Sow(pos);
board.Capture(pos.player, finalDrop);
} else {
alert(“Select a house with at least 1 stone!”);
}
} else {
alert(“Select a house from your side!”);
}
}
The mystery here is that, if you remove all the return statements, you will get the expected error.
Result: not all code paths return a value.ts(7030) typescript
– Example 5: Not All Code Paths Return a Value in Lambda Expression
Here is an example of a code path that does not return a value resulting in an error when using Lambda. It means your return statement is not working.
Let’s call a function CountPixels
Task<int> task1 = newTask<int> (() => {CountPixels (croppedBitmap, colour angle.fromArgb (255, 255, 255, 255));});
In the end, we will get an error because we didn’t return CountPixels.
Also, when using PowerShell 5, you can receive an error message, not all code paths return value within method powershell. Now you know what this means.
FAQs
– Which One Is Better, Using”If-else” or “Return”?
They are equally efficient, but the return is usually considered to give better readability, especially when used to eliminate several nested conditions.
Note:
The return should be the last line in the function which returns either a specified value or the last variable assignment in the function. The if-else is meant to conditionally execute code if your test premise is false.
if /* some condition is not met */
return
if /* another requirement is not met */
return
if /* yet another requirement fails */
return
/* now we know it’s OK to proceed */
/*
the “real” work of the procedure begins here
*/
– What Is the Use of Return Value in Java?
The return is used in Javascript, not as an identifier but to exit from a method with or without a value.
Let’s consider an example you can try by yourself. A method with a return value:
public class Main {
static int myMethod(int x) {
return 5 + x;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(myMethod(3));
}
}
// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)
Conclusion
Now that you have read our article, you won’t find it difficult to solve code path errors again in your function because our coding experts have shown you possible problems and their solutions. Let’s see some of the points we mentioned in the article:
- The error message is caused whenever the return statement is unable to return a value to the calling function
- The set of instructions in our programming is known as code path
- The return statement simply means an exit point from a function
- The error message can be seen in programming languages such as JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, Dartz, and so on.
- A function continues to run infinitely unless it is returned
The function of the return statement cannot be underrated as it gives the code better readability.
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Question
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Hello Programmers,
I am facing a warning C4715: CreateAndTrain::cSomeClassContainer::SomeFunction’ : not all control paths return a value.
I realized that there should be valid return type if, «if» condition fails.
But i could not understand what return type i should use for ref class ?
Below is class —
SomeClass^ cSomeClassContainer::someFunction(System::Guid cID) { for each(CNameClass^ cName in this->NameList) { if(cName->Name->ID==cID) { return cName->Name; } else { Console::WriteLine("Unidentified ID"); //return; <--- Here ?? } } }
Where,
public ref class CNameClass { public: property SomeCLass^ Name; // Single Label };
Thanks in Advance…….
-
Edited by
Monday, September 14, 2015 9:44 AM
-
Edited by
Answers
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The same as cName->Name. But I guess it would be better to use a single point of return and write it as (aircode):
SomeClass^ cSomeClassContainer::someFunction(System::Guid cID) { SomeClass^ *result = NULL; for each(CNameClass^ cName in this->NameList) { if(cName->Name->ID==cID) { *p = cName->Name; break; } } return result; }
Otherwise your logic would have a flaw.
-
Proposed as answer by
rp_suman
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 6:50 AM -
Marked as answer by
May Wang — MSFT
Monday, September 28, 2015 7:54 AM
-
Proposed as answer by
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- Not All Control Paths Return a Value
Not All Control Paths Return a Value
in this assignment we’re supposed to use recursion as a technique for determining whether a word qualifies as a palindrome. although i’m still struggling to become comfortable with it as a problem solving mechanism, this code seems like it should otherwise work. however, the visual c++ 2010 compiler gives me the «not all control paths return a variable» error:
1>c:usersdddocumentsvisual studio 2010projectscs201program5program5program5.cpp(52): warning C4715: ‘palcheck’ : not all control paths return a value
1>MSVCRTD.lib(crtexew.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16 referenced in function ___tmainCRTStartup
1>C:UsersddDocumentsVisual Studio 2010ProjectsCS201program5Debugprogram5.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 1 unresolved externals
any ideas?
#include<iostream>
#include<fstream>
#include<string>
using namespace std;
bool palcheck(string word, int first, int last);
int main()
{
ofstream palindrome, NOTpalindrome;
ifstream fin;
string word;
palindrome.open(«palindrontest.txt»);
NOTpalindrome.open(«notPalindronetest.txt»);
fin.open(«input5.txt»); //list of palindromes, one per line
if (palindrome.fail() || NOTpalindrome.fail() || fin.fail())
return -1;
while (fin >> word)
{
if (palcheck(word, 0, (word.size()-1)) == true)
palindrome << word << endl;
else
NOTpalindrome << word << endl;
}
palindrome.close();
NOTpalindrome.close();
fin.close();
return 0;
}
bool palcheck(string word, int first, int last)
{
if (first >= last)
return true;
else if (word[first] == word[last])
return palcheck(word, first+1, last-1);
else// (word[first] != word[last])
return false;
}
Last edited on
When telling us compiler errors, it does help to know what compiler you are using. Also, the complete quote would be good, for example if it shows a line the compiler determined the error to occur in, or maybe it isn’t even a compiler but a linker error… etc.
Oh, and use [ code] [ /code] tags please.
Think carefully about all the possible execution paths in the palcheck
function and make sure a value is returned at the end of each one. (At the moment I think a value is returned by only two out of four.
Also you seem to have put a conditional statement after else
. I don’t think you can do this. You must instead use another else if
.
Hope this helps.
thanks xander. ive made a couple changes but still getting the same errors. see above
1>MSVCRTD.lib(crtexew.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16 referenced in function ___tmainCRTStartup
this is the real issue here. You are trying to compile it as a Win32 project but don’t provide a WinMain function.
PS: [ code] at the beginning of your code, [ /code] at the end of your code. You’re new to this forum thingy, aren’t you?
Last edited on
good call sir. i merely made a new project entirely with my existing cpp file, and now all is well. thank you all so much for your consideration and your expertise. hopefully i can do the same one day.
lol is it that obvious!? …apparently… thanks for the tip though. now on to new mistakes!
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