Return datatype in procedure

[su123]

Hi friends happy to join with you people, can u give me an example for using return data type in the procedures. Because I never used return in procedures, so kindly reply me.

[krishnaindia2007]

This is example for sub procedure with return type i.e. Using out parameter

create or replace procedure out_example as
message char(80);
procedure welcome_print(s in char, m out char) as
begin
m := 'welcome to ' || s;
end;
begin
welcome_print('geekinterview.com', message);
dbms_output.put_line(message);
end;
/

The following points should be kept in mind before using out parameter
1)A formal out parameter acts like an un-initialized variable. It must be assigned with new values before the end of the procedure or function.
2)An actual out parameter must be a variable.
3)An actual out parameter will not pass any value to the formal parameter.
4)An actual out parameter will receive a copy of the value from the formal parameter at the end of the procedure or function.

[debasisdas]

Even though we can use out paramter to return value from a procedure . But that is not the actual purpose of a procedure .Better to use FUNCTION instead.