What is a section of a program that returns a value called?

In programming, a section of code specifically designed to perform a task and return a value is called a function. Functions are fundamental building blocks in programming that encapsulate logic and can be reused throughout a program. They take input, known as parameters, perform operations, and then deliver an output, which is the return value.

Functions enhance code modularity and organization, allowing developers to manage complex codebases more easily. They can also make it simpler to debug and maintain code, as specific tasks are encapsulated in their own sections.

While procedures, script packages, and modules serve important roles in programming, they do not inherently return a value. Procedures may perform actions without returning results, while script packages and modules refer to collections of code that might contain functions but are not specifically defined by their ability to return values. Thus, the term that most accurately describes a segment of code that returns a value is a function.