A return statement and a print statement serve different purposes in programming. A return statement ends the execution of a function and sends its result back to the caller, allowing the returned value to be used elsewhere in the code. It’s essential for functions that perform calculations or manipulations, as it provides the output from these operations.
On the other hand, a print statement outputs information to the console. It is primarily used for debugging or providing updates to the user during program execution. Unlike a return statement, a print statement doesn’t affect the flow of the program nor does it provide a usable result for further computations.
In essence, while both can display results, only a return statement allows those results to be utilized later in the code.