---
title: "Return · Agentic Atlas"
description: "Return: the optional result, status, failure, or artifact pointer sent from a child back to its parent. Its declared shape is the return contract."
canonical: "https://agentic-atlas.dev/glossary/return"
last-updated: "2026-08-19"
---

Glossary definition

# Return

Atlas key

return

Catalog order

37

Used in

11 sections

Catalog revision · 35263c4c415da742953d0462804fb14424e2244dae4c63efd27e468988de70ab

the optional result, status, failure, or artifact pointer sent from a child back to its parent. Its declared shape is the *return contract*. ([contract documentation](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/contract-documentation))

[Browse the complete glossary](https://agentic-atlas.dev/glossary)

## Used in

- [The Context Economy](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/context-economy#model-and-claims-the-price-list) Model and claims · 1 mention
- [Context Flow](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/context-flow#model-and-claims) Model and claims · 1 mention
- [Cost Relocation](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/cost-relocation#structure-two-branches-one-per-axis) Structure · 1 mention
- [The Docs Expert](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/docs-expert-agent#verification-what-this-example-deliberately-leaves-out) Verification · 1 mention
- [Heavy Agent](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/heavy-agent#structure-the-parts-and-what-counts-as-the-weight) Structure · 1 mention
- [LLM Dispatch](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/llm-dispatch#model-and-claims) Model and claims · 1 mention
- [No Duck Left Behind](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/no-duck-left-behind#choice) Choice · 1 mention
- [One Guide, Three Bills](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/one-guide-three-bills#implementation) Implementation · 1 mention
- [The Session Bill](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/session-bill#context-the-session) Context · 1 mention
- [Subagent Offload](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/subagent-offload#intent) Intent · 1 mention
- [The Unsent Thunderstorm](https://agentic-atlas.dev/nodes/unsent-thunderstorm#lessons) Lessons · 1 mention