Both RETURN and EXIT are control flow statements, but they serve different purposes and behave differently depending on the context. Here's a clear breakdown:
🔁 RETURN Statement
Purpose:
Used to exit a procedure—like a function module, method, or form—immediately and return control to the calling program.
Where it's used:
- Function modules
- Methods
- Subroutines (
FORMroutines)
Behavior:
- Ends the current procedure and returns to the caller.
- No further code in the procedure is executed after
RETURN.
Example:
FORM my_form.
IF sy-subrc <> 0.
RETURN.
ENDIF. " More code here won't run if RETURN is triggered
ENDFORM.
🚪 EXIT Statement
Purpose:
Used to exit a loop or control structure like DO, WHILE, or LOOP.
Where it's used:
- Inside loops (
LOOP,DO,WHILE) - Not valid in procedures like methods or function modules (outside loops)
Behavior:
- Immediately exits the current loop, but the rest of the surrounding code continues.
- Does not exit the entire procedure.
Example:
LOOP AT it_table INTO wa_table.
IF wa_table-flag = 'X'.
EXIT. " Exits the LOOP, not the FORM
ENDIF.
ENDLOOP.
🧠 Summary Table
Let me know if you want to see how CHECK fits into this trio—it’s another control statement that behaves a bit differently again.
