Remove Unnecessary Return Values

Severity: Low

Description

Returning unnecessary values in functions can clutter the code, making it harder to read and maintain. Unused return values do not add value and can lead to confusion about the function's purpose. By removing redundant return values, developers can simplify function signatures, reduce cognitive load, and make the code more efficient. This practice also enhances the clarity of the function’s intent, helping future developers understand the logic more easily and ensuring a cleaner codebase.

What should be avoided

Returning an input parameter without modification is redundant and can be confusing:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
fn project_validation(project_metadata: Metadata) -> Result<Metadata, Error> {
    validate_metadata(&metadata)?;

    // Returns the same value without changes
    project_metadata
}
}

Best practice

If the return value is not needed, avoid returning it, focusing the function solely on its primary operation:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
fn project_validation(project_metadata: &Metadata) -> Result<(), Error> {
    // Perform validation without returning project_metadata
    validate_metadata(metadata)?;

    Ok(())
}
}

In this approach:

• The function is more straightforward, focusing only on validation without an unnecessary return value, improving clarity and maintainability.