What is the role of the return type in a member function definition?

The return type in a member function definition plays a critical role by specifying the type of value the function will return to the caller after its execution. This provides essential information to anyone using the function about what kind of result they can expect.

For instance, if a function is defined with a return type of int, it indicates that the function will return an integer value. This type information enables proper handling of the function's output, ensuring that the calling code can accurately use or store the returned value. If a function does not return a value, it should be specified with the return type void, which communicates that no value will be provided.

Understanding the function's return type is vital for effective programming, as it ensures type safety and helps in preventing errors that may arise from expecting a different type of return value than what is actually produced.