Function to find largest number

Question

I'm learning C++ through Sololearn. Below is a code to find the largest of two numbers.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int max(int a, int b){

   if (a > b) {
       return a;
   }

   return b;
} 

int main() {

    cout << max(7, 4) << endl;
    return 0;
}

Result - 7

But shouldn't it return b also since there's return b in function????

Answer 1

Only one return statement will execute within a function. As soon as the code encounters the first return it will immediately leave the function and no further code will execute.

Answer 2

The answer of CoryKramer says it all. Still, to avoid the confusion you bumped into, I would prefer:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int max(int a, int b){

   if (a > b) {
       return a;
   }
   else {
       return b;
   }
} 

int main() {

    cout << max(7, 4) << endl;
    return 0;
}

Alternatively you could use:

return a > b ? a : b;

The latter line is a so called 'conditional expression' (or 'conditional operator'). If the phrase before the ? is true, it returns the part between the ? and the :, else it returns the part after the : .

It is explained in detail here.