Return statement is inconsistent with previous usage - JQuery

Question

What does this error means?

Return statement is inconsistent with previous usage

Netbeans show this error when i coded the below (snippet):

$.each(ToValidate, function (indexOfQuestions, questionNumber) {
    var radioValue = "ja";

    if (radioValue === "NEI" && questionNumber === "1.1") {
        return false;
    } else if (radioValue === "JA" && questionNumber === "1.1") {
        return;
    }
});

in else if, I am trying to continue the each, so I am using return. In if I need to break the control out of each so I am using return false. But that error is quite confusing.

Have I used keywords correctly or is there any other way to use Continue and Break in JQuery?

It probably means your editor thinks it makes more sense to return `true` and not just `undefined`, which I tend to agree with. — adeneo, May 12 '15 at 05:12
`return;` is the JavaScript equivalent of "return nothing from a void function" (it actually returns undefined implicitly). It's not actually an *error*, but a *warning* - specify the return value explicitly (is it really supposed to be undefined?) to avoid it. — user2864740, May 12 '15 at 05:13
Also note that the `else` clause is totally useless in that code, it will just return anyway ? — adeneo, May 12 '15 at 05:14
possible duplicate of [Is there a benefit to using a return statement that returns nothing?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3717420/is-there-a-benefit-to-using-a-return-statement-that-returns-nothing) — Rahul Tripathi, May 12 '15 at 05:15

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 12 '15 at 05:19

The answer is documented in NetBeans wiki: link.

What this means is that a caller of the function can't expect a single type of return value which complicates using the function.

Having said that, in the current context that is completely valid code, since $.each only cares if the return value is false.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 12 '15 at 05:17

This is a code checking function noticing that you're returning a value in one code path and not returning a value in another code path in the same function. Usually, you either want to return a value or not return a value from a given function, not sometimes one and sometimes the other.

So, it is warning you about that unusual (and likely wrong) condition.

Return statement is inconsistent with previous usage - JQuery

2 Answers2