# Create function with "return" **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions about Thunkable X\ **Created:** [April 27, 2021, 9:26am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086 "2021-04-27T09:26:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andreas.sjdtomypv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@andreas.sjdtomypv](https://community.thunkable.com/u/andreas.sjdtomypv)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 9:26am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/1 "2021-04-27T09:26:24Z")
Hi. I am a bit confused and I am wondering if anyone can explain to me why this is happening: I want to create a function with a return: ![Screenshot 2021-04-27 at 11.16.29](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/4/9/49ba97f5fb917e1966d917a994e2b9ec929c8476.png) But I get confused. When I create this function and then want to call it, it is now looking like this: ![Screenshot 2021-04-27 at 11.12.29 (2)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/f/d/fdbc1df5dbfa8ffc96b9cb05f1e255a160088058.jpeg) See the different from the function: “do something”? And if I want to add the piece “return”, then the output is closing, so there is no way to add any output for the return… ![Screenshot 2021-04-27 at 11.12.40 (2)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/7/4/7419d963a606cf5e425824d2604cdbfac7022b15.jpeg) Is this normal behaviour? How can I do something like this then: (which I want to) ? ![Screenshot 2021-04-27 at 11.24.44](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/4/d/4d8e0692685f82c5a61089c725a480dfd7b8d566.png) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jane](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jane/32/27575_2.png) [@jane](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jane)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/2 "2021-04-27T10:51:18Z")
Hi there, If a function returns a given value, then that function will appear as a value block so that the value it returns can be used in other blocks, like this: ![Screen Shot 2021-04-27 at 11.48.29 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/e/3/e3e29c49261455116443c9c023055e0c4fb798ad.png) Where are you finding this return block that does not allow you to specify the value to return? I still see the usual return block that lets you attach a value: ![Screen Shot 2021-04-27 at 11.48.12 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/f/a/fac277d7e0780a7b2803291114626f578305f0a8.png) Which allows you to do something like this, or like the sample function you posted: ![Screen Shot 2021-04-27 at 11.48.22 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/thunkable/original/3X/9/6/964983ced3b0147ecf5aedfed75eba68bee52144.png) ---
**Author:** ![andreas.sjdtomypv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@andreas.sjdtomypv](https://community.thunkable.com/u/andreas.sjdtomypv)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/3 "2021-04-27T11:21:06Z")
Thanks for your reply. Well, I do see these also, but as soon as I “add” the block to the project the “output” disappears. Or if I have created a function with a return block from start, I won’t be able to just call it later, I need to add it as an “output”… See what I mean? If I use the simple “create function-block”, without any return - I can call this to any block later. If I create a function WITH return, I can not call that in the same way as the other function, I need to “add” it as an output/value somewhere… If I creat a simple function without return and then ADD a return block to that function, the “output-opening” is closing, so I can’t add anything there later on… Please see video shot here: > **[andreas sjöstedt sent you 1 item](https://www.dropbox.com/t/dRQyr3SNCL8TNJl1)** > > Screen Recording 2021-04-27 at 13.08.11.mov I am sorry for my bad “code-languish”, I am not sure how to formulate my self. Maybe this is a completely normal behaviour, it’s just that I don’t understand it… So I need to ask. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![tatiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/tatiang/32/55482_2.png) [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/4 "2021-04-27T18:17:49Z")
Does it help to know that you can change a variable (any variable’s) value from within a standard function? The function with return block is really only for times when you need to have the returned value immediately available as a block. Otherwise, you can just use the standard function block. I’ve never used the standalone “return” block in a function. I’m honestly not sure what it does. ---
**Author:** ![tatiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/tatiang/32/55482_2.png) [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/5 "2021-04-27T18:22:22Z")
Can you explain what you want the function to do? For example, I might say “I want to calculate the square root of a number the user types in” or “I want to sort a list I have stored in a variable in reverse order.” What is it you’re actually wanting to do with functions? ---
**Author:** ![andreas.sjdtomypv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@andreas.sjdtomypv](https://community.thunkable.com/u/andreas.sjdtomypv)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2021, 7:12am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/6 "2021-04-28T07:12:23Z")
Thanks! Yea, I want to loop/repeat my call for my data list until there is something in the list, and if there never gets anything in that list (It’s empty) I want to “break” that loop after a wile by just RETURN to my empty list… Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jane](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/jane/32/27575_2.png) [@jane](https://community.thunkable.com/u/jane)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2021, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/7 "2021-04-28T12:18:28Z")
Hi there, In this video, you drag out a function that does not return a value. Can you drag out the second function block, that does contain a return block, and see if that works in your app? It’s called ‘do something and return’ in this video. ---
**Author:** ![ioannis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/ioannis/32/146956_2.png) [@ioannis](https://community.thunkable.com/u/ioannis)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/create-function-with-return/1248086/8 "2024-11-08T13:22:54Z")