---
url: /docs/guide/usage/linter/rules/eslint/no-else-return.md
---

### What it does

Disallow `else` blocks after `return` statements in `if` statements.

### Why is this bad?

If an `if` block contains a `return` statement, the `else` block becomes
unnecessary. Its contents can be placed outside of the block.

```javascript
function foo() {
  if (x) {
    return y;
  } else {
    return z;
  }
}
```

This rule is aimed at highlighting an unnecessary block of code
following an `if` containing a return statement. As such, it will warn
when it encounters an `else` following a chain of `if`s, all of them
containing a `return` statement.

### Examples

#### `allowElseIf: true`

Examples of **incorrect** code for this rule:

```javascript
function foo1() {
  if (x) {
    return y;
  } else {
    return z;
  }
}

function foo2() {
  if (x) {
    return y;
  } else if (z) {
    return w;
  } else {
    return t;
  }
}

function foo3() {
  if (x) {
    return y;
  } else {
    var t = "foo";
  }

  return t;
}

function foo4() {
  if (error) {
    return "It failed";
  } else {
    if (loading) {
      return "It's still loading";
    }
  }
}

// Two warnings for nested occurrences
function foo5() {
  if (x) {
    if (y) {
      return y;
    } else {
      return x;
    }
  } else {
    return z;
  }
}
```

Examples of **correct** code for this rule:

```javascript
function foo1() {
  if (x) {
    return y;
  }

  return z;
}

function foo2() {
  if (x) {
    return y;
  } else if (z) {
    var t = "foo";
  } else {
    return w;
  }
}

function foo3() {
  if (x) {
    if (z) {
      return y;
    }
  } else {
    return z;
  }
}

function foo4() {
  if (error) {
    return "It failed";
  } else if (loading) {
    return "It's still loading";
  }
}
```

## Configuration

This rule accepts a configuration object with the following properties:

### allowElseIf

type: `boolean`

default: `true`

Whether to allow `else if` blocks after a return statement.

Examples of **incorrect** code for this rule with `allowElseIf: false`:

```javascript
function foo() {
  if (error) {
    return "It failed";
  } else if (loading) {
    return "It's still loading";
  }
}
```

Examples of **correct** code for this rule with `allowElseIf: false`:

```javascript
function foo() {
  if (error) {
    return "It failed";
  }

  if (loading) {
    return "It's still loading";
  }
}
```

## How to use

## Version

This rule was added in v0.9.10.

## References