What is the purpose of using a return statement in a Karel function?

The purpose of using a return statement in a Karel function is to provide a value back to the calling location in the program. When a function is called, it may perform a series of actions or computations, and the return statement allows it to send a result back to wherever the function was invoked. This is essential for passing data between different parts of a program, enabling modular design, and maintaining clean and organized code.

For example, if a function calculates the distance Karel should move based on certain conditions, using a return statement allows that calculated distance to be used immediately in another part of the program. This facilitates more efficient programming by allowing functions to provide results rather than only performing actions directly.

The other options do not accurately reflect the role of a return statement. Stopping a function from executing pertains to different control flow mechanisms, printing information is handled through output functions, and creating loops is achieved with control structures like for or while, rather than a return statement.