Source: https://dev-docs.nebula-graph.io/v5.3.2/database-gql-reference/dql/primitive-result/
Documentation version: v5.3.2

# Primitive result statement

The primitive result statement defines the final output behavior of a linear query:

- Return data, optionally with paging.
- Or end the query directly without returning data.

## Syntax

diagramsource

 primitive_result  

````
primitive_result ::=
    return_statement paging_statement?
  | FINISH

````

## Parameters

### `return_statement`

Selects query results or performs aggregation on the query results. For more information, see [RETURN statement](https://dev-docs.nebula-graph.io/v5.3.2/database-gql-reference/dql/return/).

### `paging_statement`

Splits the query result dataset into discrete subsets, or pages. For more information, see [Paging statements](https://dev-docs.nebula-graph.io/v5.3.2/database-gql-reference/dql/order-by-page/).

### `FINISH`

The `FINISH` clause ends the query without returning query data.

## Examples

### Return distinct results with paging

````
'''
LET nums = LIST[5, 3, 1, 4, 2, 2]
FOR i IN nums
RETURN DISTINCT i AS num
ORDER BY num ASC
OFFSET 1
LIMIT 2
'''

````

The preceding statement first expands the list `nums`, then uses `RETURN DISTINCT` to return unique results, and applies `ORDER BY` and `OFFSET` for paging. Finally, it returns the first 2 rows of the remaining result set.

Return:

````
+-----+
| num |
+-----+
| 2   |
| 3   |
+-----+

````

### End a query without returning data

````
'''
LET nums = LIST[1, 2, 3]
FOR n IN nums
FINISH
'''

````

The preceding statement first expands the list `nums`, then uses `FINISH` to end the query directly without returning any data.

### Finish an inline procedure

````
'''
LET a = 1
CALL {
  LET b = a + 1
  FINISH
}
RETURN a
'''

````

The preceding statement first defines the variable `a`, then calls an inline procedure. Inside that procedure, `FINISH` ends the procedure without returning any inner result, so the final result contains only `a` from the outer query.

Return:

````
+---+
| a |
+---+
| 1 |
+---+

````