What is the purpose of the RETURN keyword in a stored procedure or function?

Short answer: Stored Procedures: The RETURN keyword in a stored procedure is typically used to exit the procedure and can optionally return an integer value (usually indicating the success or failure of the procedure). The return value is often used for error handling or status reporting. Indexing

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest’s SQL Server database stores customers, products, and orders. Good indexes and clear foreign keys keep checkout queries fast and safe.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.