What is the purpose of the `return` statement in Python?

The purpose of the return statement in Python is to exit a function and send back a value to the caller. When a function is executed, it often performs a series of operations or calculations, and the return statement is used to give back a result. This allows the caller of the function to utilize the result in further computations or decisions in the program.

For example, if a function calculates the square of a number, it will use the return statement to send the calculated square back to the part of the program that requested it. This feature is essential for functions to be useful, as they often encapsulate behavior that needs to produce output or results that can be used later on.

In contrast, defining a function involves using the def keyword, which sets up the function's structure but does not perform any return action. Exiting a loop is typically handled by statements like break or continue, which are unrelated to the function's return behavior. Declaring a variable is simply an assignment operation and does not involve returning values from functions. Thus, the return statement specifically relates to ending a function and transferring data back to where the function was called, which is precisely why it is the correct answer in this