== Why is this an issue?

Procedures, unlike functions, do not return values. The ``++RETURN++`` statement therefore, when used within a procedure, is used to prematurely end the procedure. However, having multiple exit points (i.e. more than the ``++END++`` of the procedure itself), increases the complexity of the procedure and makes it harder to understand and debug.

=== Noncompliant code example

[source,sql]
----
SET SERVEROUTPUT ON

DECLARE
  PROCEDURE prcoedureWithReturn AS
  BEGIN
    RETURN; -- Noncompliant

    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('prcoedureWithReturn called'); -- This is actually unreachable
  END;
BEGIN
  prcoedureWithReturn;
END;
/
----

ifdef::env-github,rspecator-view[]

'''
== Implementation Specification
(visible only on this page)

=== Message

Remove this "RETURN" statement.


'''
== Comments And Links
(visible only on this page)

include::../comments-and-links.adoc[]

endif::env-github,rspecator-view[]