Question

I find that in a function return statement I am able to do this.

int f() {
    return 1;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; // ...;;;
}

I can add as many semicolons as I want and the above doesn’t result in any compiler or runtime errors. This surprised me coming from a strict language like C++. Can someone explain why I am able to do this? I’m unable, however, to do this in any other context.

int x = 1;;;; // error

So can someone tell me why I am able to do something like this?

Answer 1

Quoted from K&R, expression statement has product expression-statement: expression;.

If the expression is missing, the construction is called a null statement;
it is often used to supply an empty body to an iteration statement to place
a label.

It is a valid language construct, so no complains from your compiler.