It is more efficient to use if-return-return or if-else-return?

Suppose I have an if statement with a return. From the efficiency perspective, should I use

if(A > B):
    return A+1
return A-1

or

if(A > B):
    return A+1
else:
    return A-1

Should I prefer one or another when using a compiled language (C) or a scripted one (Python)?

Solution 1:

Since the return statement terminates the execution of the current function, the two forms are equivalent (although the second one is arguably more readable than the first).

The efficiency of both forms is comparable, the underlying machine code has to perform a jump if the if condition is false anyway.

Note that Python supports a syntax that allows you to use only one return statement in your case:

return A+1 if A > B else A-1

Solution 2:

From Chromium's style guide:

Don't use else after return:

# Bad
if (foo)
  return 1
else
  return 2

# Good
if (foo)
  return 1
return 2

return 1 if foo else 2