Can you exemplify any situation that may be exercised by one command but not another? Because the same thing happened here in both commands.
Using print :
>>> def media(x1, x2):
... print((x1+x2)/2)
>>> x = media(1, 3)
2
Using return :
>>> def medya(y1, y2):
... return ((y1+y2)/2)
>>> y = medya(1, 3)
>>> y
2
If you look a little deeper, you'll see that when you use print , even though the correct value is displayed, the value of x that gets the return of the function will be null, None .
>>> def media(a, b):
... print((a+b)/2)
>>> x = media(1, 3)
2
>>> print(x)
None
That is, using print output is sent to the output buffer and then discarded. The value x , which would receive the result, is given a null value, since the function has no return.
Different if you use return , because the value will be returned by the function and assigned in x :
>>> def media(a, b):
... return (a+b)/2
>>> x = media(1, 3)
>>> print(x)
2
Notice that even when calling the function, the output is not displayed until the print(x) is executed, because the function sends the return to x and no longer to the output buffer .
Imagine that you need to add 5 on average between 1 and 3. Using print you will not be able to x+5 , because x is null, since the function has no return - and it is not possible to add 5 in null. Already using return , result 2 will be stored in x and thus it will be possible to add 5.
Ideally, a function should not use print , unless it is explicitly its purpose: to display the data. A function that calculates the average should not have the display to average. This breaks the principle of single responsibility and leaves your code somewhat reusable.
When you use return , you will have direct access and power to manipulate the function return, which generates a much more versatile and malleable code for you.
Imagine the following problem:
Using print , the result the first average, 2, will be displayed on the screen, as well as the result of the second mean, 8. Will someone need to manually make the sum of 2 and 8 to get the result 10. p>
When you use return , you can access the results within the program yet, you can do:
>>> x = media(1, 3)
>>> y = media(7, 9)
>>> x+y
10
You do not need to know the partial results to get the total; if you need to change media(7, 9) to media(7, 11) , the result x+y will automatically become 11.
I chose to respond in the simplest way possible by ignoring all the formalities:
Although they look the same, they are totally different and are used in completely different contexts.
The print function is used to print a given information on the console (terminal) where you are programming. Note: print stands for printing in English.
As for the return function, it returns some "inside" information of any function. Note: return means return in English
This coincidence happens in python, but in java for example you would not be able to see the impression of a return as it was done without a "print" function.
I hope you have understood!
Your confusion comes from the fact that python, at the command prompt (REPL) >>> automatically prints the returned value.
This does not normally occur, just when you are executing commands at the python immediate prompt - it is a matter of convenience - to facilitate the use of the immediate command interpreter, it has a built-in% the return value.
In a true program, where you write the code in a file and command its execution, only print() generates output on the screen. The print() will not generate any output in this case.