return new vs return?

[mp3909]

public class List : IEnumerable
{
    private object[] _objects;
 
    public List()
    {
        _objects = new object[100];
    }
 
    public void Add(object obj)
    {
        _objects[_objects.Count] = obj;
    }
 
    public IEnumerator GetEnumerator()
    {
        return new ListEnumerator();     //why is there a new keyword here?
    }
 
    private class ListEnumerator : IEnumerator
    {
    }
}

In the code above, why is there a "return new"?
I have only seen "return".
What's the difference between "return" and "return new"?

 

[JohnH]

What's the difference between "return" and "return new"?

There isn't any because you are reading it wrong. Read as "return" and "new ListEnumerator".

new operator - Create and initialize a new instance of a type - C# reference

The C# new operator is used to create a optionally initialize a new instance of a type.

docs.microsoft.com

A new object of type ListEnumerator is created, then that object is returned from function.

 

[mp3909]

I see, thanks for your kind explanation.