return statement in main()

In the code below (from Wrox press beginning Java2), what is the purpose of having a return statement in the main method vs not having a return statement. Just seems odd since we dont return anything.

public class TryThread extends Thread {
    
    
    //instance variables
    private String firstName;
    private String lastName;
    private long aWhile;
    
    //constructor, set instance variables
    public TryThread (String firstName, String lastName, long delay) {
     
     this.firstName = firstName;
     this.lastName = lastName;
     this.aWhile = delay;
     setDaemon(true);   
    }
    
    
    //main
    public static void main (String[] args){
     
        //create three threads
        TryThread thread1 = new TryThread("clint", "eastwood", 2000L);
        TryThread thread2 = new TryThread("john", "wayne", 200L);
        TryThread thread3 = new TryThread("mel", "gibson", 500L);
        
        //display a prompt to press enter to quit
        System.out.println("press enter when u have had enough ");
        
        //start the threads
        thread1.start();
        thread2.start();
        thread3.start();
        
        //respond to pressing enter key
        try {
         
            System.in.read();
            System.out.println("enter pressed... \n");
            
        }catch  (Exception ex) {
            System.out.println(ex);
        }
        
        
        System.out.println("ending main...");
        return;
        
    }//end main
    
    
    
    //method where thread execution will start
    public void run() {
        
        //print firstName and then sleep for a bit
        try {
            System.out.println("firstName is " + firstName);
            sleep(aWhile);
            System.out.println("last name is " + lastName);
        
        }catch (Exception ex) {
            
         System.out.println("we were interrupted " + firstName + lastName + ex);   
        }
    }
    
}//end class

(Marilyn added code tags)
[ December 25, 2002: Message edited by: Marilyn de Queiroz ]

Hi,
I know that a return statement in the main will end the program, since it returns control back to the system.
In this case, the return is at the end of the main routine...It is a way to stop the threads, since the return will Interrupt their run().
I think...
/Daniela
[ December 25, 2002: Message edited by: Daniela Ch ]

The "main" thread will end when it reaches the ending curly brace whether "return" is there or not. It will also stop the program because the new threads are daemon threads, but you'll notice that some stuff may still print after main() has ended.

I see no function for "return" in this context.

Originally posted by Marilyn de Queiroz:
The "main" thread will end when it reaches the ending curly brace whether "return" is there or not. It will also stop the program because the new threads are daemon threads, but you'll notice that some stuff may still print after main() has ended.

I see no function for "return" in this context.

Thats kind what im thinking as well...
it doesnt hurt either though

Here's a nice little example showing that 'return' in main can be useful, i.e. it doesn't necessariliy terminate the program, but it does terminate the current invokation of function main itself:

kind regards