avoid-ignoring-return-values.mdx

import RuleDetails from '@site/src/components/RuleDetails';

Warns when a return value of a method or function invocation or a class instance property access is not used.

Silently ignoring such values might lead to a potential error especially when the invocation target is an immutable instance which has all its methods returning a new instance (for example, String or DateTime classes).

Example {#example}

❌ Bad:

int foo() {
    return 5;
}

void bar() {
    print('whatever');
}

void main() {
    bar();
    foo(); // LINT: return value is silently ignored

    final str = "Hello there";
    str.substr(5); // LINT: Strings are immutable and the return value should be handled

    final date = new DateTime(2018, 1, 13);
    date.add(Duration(days: 1, hours: 23))); // LINT: Return value ignored, DateTime is immutable
}

✅ Good:

int foo() {
    return 5;
}

void bar() {
    print('whatever');
}

void main() {
    bar();
    final f = foo();

    final str = "Hello there";
    final newString = str.substr(5);

    final date = new DateTime(2018, 1, 13);
    final newDate = date.add(Duration(days: 1, hours: 23)));
}