Returning simple typed values from functions

Simple data types such as INTEGER, DECIMAL, VARCHAR are returned by value with the RETURN instruction.

When returning a simple typed value, the runtime system pushes a copy of the data on the stack. The STRING data type is an exception to this rule: elements of this type are return by mutable reference: the whole string value is not copied on the stack, only the reference to the string value is copied.

When using the RETURNS clause in the function definition, the returned value is typed as specified in the RETURNS clause.

MAIN
  DISPLAY int_add(10,20)
  DISPLAY int_div(5,3)
END MAIN

FUNCTION int_add(n1 INTEGER, n2 INTEGER) RETURNS INTEGER
  RETURN (n1+n2)
END FUNCTION

FUNCTION int_div(n1 INTEGER, n2 INTEGER) RETURNS INTEGER
  RETURN (n1/n2)
END FUNCTION

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