What type of data is returned when using the return operator in a function or method?

In Android (Java/Kotlin), the return operator in a function or method returns a value of the type specified in the function declaration. For example, if a method is declared as int getNumber(), then the return operator must return a value of type int.

If the method is declared with a return type of void, then the return operator is used without a value, simply to exit the method.

Example in Java:

public int sum(int a, int b) {
    return a + b; // returns an int
}

public void printHello() {
    System.out.println("Hello");
    return; // exits the method without a return value
}

Thus, the return type corresponds to the declared type of the method or function.