Syntax error: Illegal return statement in JavaScript

Question

I am getting a really weird JavaScript error when I run this code:

Answer 1

In my experience, most often this error message means that you have put an accidental closing brace somewhere, leaving the rest of your statements outside the function.

Example:

function a() {
    if (global_block) //syntax error is actually here - missing opening brace
       return;
    } //this unintentionally ends the function

    if (global_somethingelse) {
       //Chrome will show the error occurring here, 
       //but actually the error is in the previous statement
       return; 
    }

    //do something
}