Functions

These are just like procedures, but they return a value, and can be used in an expression, e.g.

    function getAverage(atom a, atom b)
        return (a+b)/2
    end function

In general function names should probably begin with a verb, mainly because things like atom average = average(...) will simply fail to compile.
Any Phix object can be returned. You can return multiple values, by returning a sequence of objects. e.g.

     return {x_pos, y_pos}

See also: Multiple Assignment

The general term "subroutine", or simply "routine" is used when a remark is applicable to both procedures and functions.