Meaning – The term return code, refers to a code used to influence the execution of succeeding instructions.
Sometimes, the return code is also referred to as an exit code. An exit code or exit status is a number that is returned by an executable to show whether it was successful. This is also sometimes called a return code, or in some cases, an error code, although the terminology here may be slightly different.
The simple explanation for an exit code is that the executable program is programmed to return a whole number that shows whether it was successfully executed.
Example of usage – “One of the important distinctions in exit codes is the existence of syntax errors versus errors in compiling. As computing grew more complicated, the number of potential errors or outcomes has risen, is reflected in the technologies that produce and interpret exit codes.”
