A function returns everything that is not captured by something else.

If u use the return keyword, every statement after the return line will not be executed!

Like this:

Function Test-Function
{
    Param
    (
        [switch]$ExceptionalReturn
    )
    "Start"
    if($ExceptionalReturn){Return "Damn, it didn't work!"}
    New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\\" -Name "test" -Value "TestValue" -Type "String"
    Return "Yes, it worked!"
}

Test-Function

Will return:

• Start
• The newly created registry key (this is because there are some statements that create output that you may not be expecting)
• Yes, it worked!

Test-Function -ExceptionalReturn Will return:

• Start
• Damn, it didn’t work!

If you do it like this:

Function Test-Function
{
    Param
    (
        [switch]$ExceptionalReturn
    )
    . {
       "Start"
        if($ExceptionalReturn)
        {
            $Return = "Damn, it didn't work!"
            Return
        }
        New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\\" -Name "test" -Value "TestValue" -Type "String"
        $Return = "Yes, it worked!"
        Return 
    } | Out-Null
    Return $Return
}

Test-Function

Will return:

• Yes, it worked!

Test-Function -ExceptionalReturn Will return:

• Damn, it didn’t work!

With this trick you can control the returned output even if you are not sure what will each statement will spit out.