"Rory Cusworth" <23*7*5*4@s*u*e*t*u*a*e*u*a*> wrote: There is a (rare) case where you may need to consider their difference: - exit() terminates the current process, no matter where (from which function) it's called. If exit() is called from main() the whole process terminates. - return shifts execution to the function that called the current one. If main() was (seemingly) called from the operating-system then the return acts as if to terminate the current process. However, if main() was called by another function in the same process, perhaps a recursive call, then control returns to that calling function.