💸 A fake tax form ❌ A failed result

false return

7.3

A function result of false that shows the action failed

noun

Specialized

: valor de retorno falso

Unit tests caught a false return from the validation routine when input was missing required fields.

Examples

When the API call fails, the function gives a false return that the caller must check.
You should not treat a false return as an error without inspecting the error log first.
A false return occurs when there's an error.
The function produced a false return when the input was invalid.
If the input is invalid, the function will generate a false return to indicate failure.
Always check for a false return when debugging your code, as it can indicate an issue with your inputs.
The false return from the system shows that the requested operation could not be completed.

Surface Forms

false return singular

false returns plural

Morphology

false + return

The phrase is domain-specific: its meaning depends on the programming sense of 'return' (the value a function gives back) rather than the everyday noun 'return' (financial yield) provided here. A B1 learner who only knows the common senses of the constituents would not reliably infer a function's boolean 'false' return, so the meaning is not transparently derivable from the given words.

Etymology

In computing, false return comes from a program returning a value; imagine a small machine that gives back 'true' for yes or 'false' for no, so a false return is the machine handing back 'false' to show the operation failed or gave a negative result.