return ------ Return from a file, directory or function. .. code-block:: cmake return() Returns from a file, directory or function. When this command is encountered in an included file (via :command:`include` or :command:`find_package`), it causes processing of the current file to stop and control is returned to the including file. If it is encountered in a file which is not included by another file, e.g. a ``CMakeLists.txt``, deferred calls scheduled by :command:`cmake_language(DEFER)` are invoked and control is returned to the parent directory if there is one. If return is called in a function, control is returned to the caller of the function. Note that a :command:`macro `, unlike a :command:`function `, is expanded in place and therefore cannot handle ``return()``.