What is the fundamental difference between 'print' and 'return' in Python functions?

Formal Distinction between "print" and "return" in Python

When delving into the realm of Python programming, you may encounter the question of the difference between "print" and "return" statements within functions. Although the output may appear the same for a function that simply prints and returns an integer, their formal operations are vastly distinct.

The "print" statement, as its name suggests, directs its arguments to the standard output, displaying the values onto the screen. In the given example:

def funct1(param1):
    print(param1)
    return(param1)

The "print(param1)" prints the value of the parameter, while "return(param1)" sends the value back to the caller of the function. As such, the function can return a value and simultaneously print it on the screen.

In contrast, the "return" statement serves exclusively to send a value back to the invoking code. If a function does not explicitly declare a "return" statement, it implicitly returns "None." Therefore, in the absence of a "return" statement:

def funct2(param2):
    print(param2)

The function would still display the parameter value, but it would not return anything usable. Attempting to store the result of this function in a variable would yield the value "None."

To illustrate this difference, consider the following Python code:

def printAndReturnNothing():
    x = "hello"
    print(x)

def printAndReturn():
    x = "hello"
    print(x)
    return x

def main():
    ret = printAndReturn()
    other = printAndReturnNothing()

    print("ret is: %s" % ret)
    print("other is: %s" % other)

When executed, this code produces the following output:

hello
hello
ret is: hello
other is: None

This demonstrates that "print" outputs values without affecting the return value of the function, while "return" provides a means to send a specific value back to the caller. Understanding this distinction is crucial for effective Python programming.

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