In c, How does return values work in a function where return values are already added in if statements?

Question

Quick question:

int x;
int y;
int function (int a, int b)
{
   if (x == y)
   {if (y == 1) {return -1;}
    else {return 1;}}
   else {return 1;}
}

why does the code above ask me to add a return value outside of if-else statement and what should I be returning?

Answer 1

I believe it's a general compiler warning and return cases, internally to conditional cases, are not taken into account.

So, this is what the compiler is "seeing":

int function (int a, int b)
{
  if condition
  {...}
  else {...}
}

... and the compiler is asking "Where is the return?".

You can simply add return 0; // not needed, only here for avoiding compiler warnings at the end of your function code and it should be fine.