Return multiple values from a function — Javascript

We have two options to return multiple values

Problem

Need to return sum, diff, product, division from a single function

function getValues(a,b){

const sum = a + b;
const diff = a - b;
const product = a * b;
const division = a / b;

return sum,diff,product,division; 

// only last value (division) will be returned
}

console.log(getValues(10,20)) //0.5

The solution follows

Array Method

We can wrap the elements into an array and return it

function getValues(a,b){

const sum = a + b;
const diff = a - b;
const product = a * b;
const division = a / b;

return [sum,diff,product,division]; 

// wrap it as array
}

console.log(getValues(10,20)) // [30, -10, 200, 0.5]

When to use

When dealing with few return values, like useState of react, just an current state and function to update.

Advantages —

• Easy destructing without need to know the names to get the values ( incase of few values returned)

Disadvantages —

• Index position should be maintained properly when accessing to avoid wrong values to be assigned

Object Method

We can wrap elements as an object and return it — Remember {sum,diff,product,division} is same as…