What are the functions of the “return” statement in Java?

In Java, the return statement serves the following purposes:

1. Return statement is used to return the execution result of a method to the caller. In methods where the return type is specified in the declaration, a return statement must be used to return a value compatible with the return type.
2. The execution of a method can be terminated early using the return statement, even if there is unreached code in the method body.
3. Exit the loop early: In a loop statement, the return statement can be used to exit the loop execution early.
4. Break out of nested structure: In a nested structure, the return statement can be used to exit multiple levels of nested code blocks.

In conclusion, the return statement in Java is primarily used for returning values, ending method execution, and controlling program flow.