Are parentheses around the result significant in a return statement?

Question

Is there a difference between these two statements inside a function?

bool returnValue = true;
// Code that does something
return(returnValue);

Answer 1

There is no difference.

One reason to use parenthesis would be if you wanted to evaluate an expression before returning but in your example, there would be no reason. See:

Parenthesis surrounding return values

for further discussion.

Answer 2

The parenthesis on the upper example are superfluous; they are effectively ignored.

It would be the same as something like...

int x = (5);

The parenthesis here are ignored as well.

Answer 3

Both are the same in your case.

Answer 4

Nope there's no difference between the two, although you can include parenthesis if it makes the expression easy to read and clear.

Answer 5

You're abusively slowing down the compiler!

The presence of parenthesis not only slow down the preprocessing phase, but they generate a more complicated Abstract Syntax Tree too: more memory, more computation.

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From a semantic point of view ? They are exactly identical. Whether there are parenthesis or not the return statement will fully evaluate the expression before returning it.