How does Go handle multiple return values, and what are named returns?
Go functions can return multiple values natively, which is the idiomatic way to return both a result and an error. Named returns pre-declare result variables in the function signature.
Multiple return values are a first-class feature in Go, most commonly used for the (result, error) pattern. This makes error handling explicit and visible at every call site.
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Named returns improve readability in short functions by documenting what each return value represents
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Allow bare return statements — return without arguments uses the named variables
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Can be used with defer to modify return values after the function body executes
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Avoid in long functions — bare returns hide what is actually being returned and hurt readability
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Named returns are especially useful for defer-based cleanup that modifies error return