What should main() return in C and C++?

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Aryan Kumar · Answer

In C and C++, the main() function is the entry point for all programs. It is the first function that is called when the program starts executing. The
main() function can return an integer value, which can be used by the operating system to determine the status of the program.
If the program terminates normally, the main() function should return the value
0. This is the most common return value for
main().If the program terminates abnormally, the main() function should return a non-zero value. The specific value that is returned can be used by the operating system to indicate the type of error that occurred.
For example, the following code shows a main() function that returns
0 if the program terminates normally, and 1 if the program terminates abnormally:
C
int main() {
  // Do something
  if (something_went_wrong) {
    return 1;
  } else {
    return 0;
  }
}
It is important to note that the main() function must always return an integer value, even if you do not want to return any specific value. If you do not return an integer value, the compiler will generate an error.
In C, the main() function can also be defined with a void return type. This means that the
main() function does not return any value. However, it is still recommended to return
0 from the main() function, even if the function is defined with a
void return type.
Here is an example of a main() function that is defined with a 
void return type:
C
void main() {
  // Do something
}
In general, you should return 0 from the main() function, even if the function is defined with a
void return type. This will help to ensure that the operating system can correctly determine the status of the program.

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What should main() return in C and C++?

Utpal Vishwas

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