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title: "return Statement in Program Termination (C++) | Microsoft Docs"
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# return Statement in Program Termination (C++)
Issuing a `return` statement from **main** is functionally equivalent to calling the **exit** function. Consider the following example:  
  
```  
// return_statement.cpp  
#include <stdlib.h>  
int main()  
{  
    exit( 3 );  
    return 3;  
}  
```  
  
 The **exit** and `return` statements in the preceding example are functionally identical. However, C++ requires that functions that have return types other than `void` return a value. The `return` statement allows you to return a value from **main**.  
  
## See Also  
 [Program Termination](../cpp/program-termination.md)