Python return statement error “ 'return' outside function”

Question

When running the following code (in Python 2.7.1 on a mac with Mac OS X 10.7)

while True:
    return False

I get the following error

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Answer 1

To break a loop, use break instead of return.

Or put the loop or control construct into a function, only functions can return values.

Answer 2

As per the documentation on the return statement, return may only occur syntactically nested in a function definition. The same is true for yield.

Answer 3

The return statement only makes sense inside functions:

def foo():
    while True:
        return False

Answer 4

Use quit() in this context. break expects to be inside a loop, and return expects to be inside a function.