Issue #21366: Document the fact that ``return`` in a ``finally`` clause

overrides a ``return`` in the ``try`` suite.

1 files changed, 14 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/Doc/reference/compound_stmts.rst b/Doc/reference/compound_stmts.rst
index 4e037113fb..869eef4924 100644
--- a/Doc/reference/compound_stmts.rst
+++ b/Doc/reference/compound_stmts.rst
@@ -337,6 +337,20 @@ statement, the :keyword:`finally` clause is also executed 'on the way out.' A
 reason is a problem with the current implementation --- this restriction may be
 lifted in the future).
 
+The return value of a function is determined by the last :keyword:`return`
+statement executed.  Since the :keyword:`finally` clause always executes, a
+:keyword:`return` statement executed in the :keyword:`finally` clause will
+always be the last one executed::
+
+   >>> def foo():
+   ...     try:
+   ...         return 'try'
+   ...     finally:
+   ...         return 'finally'
+   ...
+   >>> foo()
+   'finally'
+
 Additional information on exceptions can be found in section :ref:`exceptions`,
 and information on using the :keyword:`raise` statement to generate exceptions
 may be found in section :ref:`raise`.