New commands: break, continue, return, and loop (#7230)

# Description

This adds `break`, `continue`, `return`, and `loop`.

* `break` - breaks out a loop
* `continue` - continues a loop at the next iteration
* `return` - early return from a function call
* `loop` - loop forever (until the loop hits a break)

Examples:
```
for i in 1..10 {
    if $i == 5 {
       continue
    } 
    print $i
}
```

```
for i in 1..10 {
    if $i == 5 {
        break
    } 
    print $i
}
```

```
def foo [x] {
    if true {
        return 2
    }
    $x
}
foo 100
```

```
loop { print "hello, forever" }
```

```
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5] | each {|x| 
    if $x > 3 { break }
    $x
}
```

# User-Facing Changes

Adds the above commands.

# Tests + Formatting

Don't forget to add tests that cover your changes.

Make sure you've run and fixed any issues with these commands:

- `cargo fmt --all -- --check` to check standard code formatting (`cargo
fmt --all` applies these changes)
- `cargo clippy --workspace -- -D warnings -D clippy::unwrap_used -A
clippy::needless_collect` to check that you're using the standard code
style
- `cargo test --workspace` to check that all tests pass

# After Submitting

If your PR had any user-facing changes, update [the
documentation](https://github.com/nushell/nushell.github.io) after the
PR is merged, if necessary. This will help us keep the docs up to date.

crates/nu-cli/src/repl.rs

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 use log::{info, trace, warn};
 use miette::{IntoDiagnostic, Result};
 use nu_color_config::get_color_config;
-use nu_engine::{convert_env_values, eval_block};
+use nu_engine::{convert_env_values, eval_block, eval_block_with_early_return};
 use nu_parser::{lex, parse, trim_quotes_str};
 use nu_protocol::{
     ast::PathMember,
@@ -962,7 +962,8 @@ pub fn run_hook_block(
         }
     }
 
-    match eval_block(engine_state, &mut callee_stack, block, input, false, false) {
+    match eval_block_with_early_return(engine_state, &mut callee_stack, block, input, false, false)
+    {
         Ok(pipeline_data) => match pipeline_data.into_value(span) {
             Value::Error { error } => Err(error),
             val => {

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/break_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Break;
+
+impl Command for Break {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "break"
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Break a loop"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> nu_protocol::Signature {
+        Signature::build("break")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
+            .category(Category::Core)
+    }
+
+    fn extra_usage(&self) -> &str {
+        r#"This command is a parser keyword. For details, check:
+  https://www.nushell.sh/book/thinking_in_nu.html"#
+    }
+
+    fn is_parser_keyword(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        _engine_state: &EngineState,
+        _stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<nu_protocol::PipelineData, nu_protocol::ShellError> {
+        Err(ShellError::Break(call.head))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Break out of a loop",
+            example: r#"loop { break }"#,
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/continue_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Continue;
+
+impl Command for Continue {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "continue"
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Continue a loop from the next iteration"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> nu_protocol::Signature {
+        Signature::build("continue")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
+            .category(Category::Core)
+    }
+
+    fn extra_usage(&self) -> &str {
+        r#"This command is a parser keyword. For details, check:
+  https://www.nushell.sh/book/thinking_in_nu.html"#
+    }
+
+    fn is_parser_keyword(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        _engine_state: &EngineState,
+        _stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<nu_protocol::PipelineData, nu_protocol::ShellError> {
+        Err(ShellError::Continue(call.head))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Continue a loop from the next iteration",
+            example: r#"for i in 1..10 { if $i == 5 { continue }; print $i }"#,
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/do_.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use nu_engine::{eval_block, CallExt};
+use nu_engine::{eval_block_with_early_return, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Closure, Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::{
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ impl Command for Do {
                 )
             }
         }
-        let result = eval_block(
+        let result = eval_block_with_early_return(
             engine_state,
             &mut stack,
             block,

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/for_.rs

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 use nu_engine::{eval_block, eval_expression, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Block, Command, EngineState, Stack};
-use nu_protocol::{Category, Example, ListStream, PipelineData, Signature, SyntaxShape, Value};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, ListStream, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, SyntaxShape, Value,
+};
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct For;
@@ -104,15 +106,27 @@ impl Command for For {
                     );
 
                     //let block = engine_state.get_block(block_id);
-                    eval_block(
+                    match eval_block(
                         &engine_state,
                         stack,
                         &block,
                         PipelineData::new(head),
                         redirect_stdout,
                         redirect_stderr,
-                    )?
-                    .into_value(head);
+                    ) {
+                        Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => {
+                            break;
+                        }
+                        Err(ShellError::Continue(_)) => {
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        Err(err) => {
+                            return Err(err);
+                        }
+                        Ok(pipeline) => {
+                            pipeline.into_value(head);
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
             }
             Value::Range { val, .. } => {
@@ -137,15 +151,27 @@ impl Command for For {
                     );
 
                     //let block = engine_state.get_block(block_id);
-                    eval_block(
+                    match eval_block(
                         &engine_state,
                         stack,
                         &block,
                         PipelineData::new(head),
                         redirect_stdout,
                         redirect_stderr,
-                    )?
-                    .into_value(head);
+                    ) {
+                        Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => {
+                            break;
+                        }
+                        Err(ShellError::Continue(_)) => {
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        Err(err) => {
+                            return Err(err);
+                        }
+                        Ok(pipeline) => {
+                            pipeline.into_value(head);
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
             }
             x => {

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/loop_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
+
+use nu_engine::{eval_block, CallExt};
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Block, Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Span, SyntaxShape, Value,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Loop;
+
+impl Command for Loop {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "loop"
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Run a block in a loop."
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> nu_protocol::Signature {
+        Signature::build("loop")
+            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block, "block to loop")
+            .category(Category::Core)
+    }
+
+    fn extra_usage(&self) -> &str {
+        r#"This command is a parser keyword. For details, check:
+  https://www.nushell.sh/book/thinking_in_nu.html"#
+    }
+
+    fn is_parser_keyword(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<nu_protocol::PipelineData, nu_protocol::ShellError> {
+        let block: Block = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
+
+        loop {
+            if let Some(ctrlc) = &engine_state.ctrlc {
+                if ctrlc.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            let block = engine_state.get_block(block.block_id);
+            match eval_block(
+                engine_state,
+                stack,
+                block,
+                PipelineData::new(call.head),
+                call.redirect_stdout,
+                call.redirect_stderr,
+            ) {
+                Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => {
+                    break;
+                }
+                Err(ShellError::Continue(_)) => {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                Err(err) => {
+                    return Err(err);
+                }
+                Ok(pipeline) => {
+                    pipeline.into_value(call.head);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(PipelineData::new(call.head))
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Loop while a condition is true",
+            example: "mut x = 0; loop { if $x > 10 { break }; $x = $x + 1 }; $x",
+            result: Some(Value::Int {
+                val: 11,
+                span: Span::test_data(),
+            }),
+        }]
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_examples() {
+        use crate::test_examples;
+
+        test_examples(Loop {})
+    }
+}

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/mod.rs

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 mod alias;
 mod ast;
+mod break_;
 mod commandline;
+mod continue_;
 mod debug;
 mod def;
 mod def_env;
@@ -22,10 +24,12 @@ mod hide_env;
 mod if_;
 mod ignore;
 mod let_;
+mod loop_;
 mod metadata;
 mod module;
 mod mut_;
 pub(crate) mod overlay;
+mod return_;
 mod try_;
 mod use_;
 mod version;
@@ -33,7 +37,9 @@ mod while_;
 
 pub use alias::Alias;
 pub use ast::Ast;
+pub use break_::Break;
 pub use commandline::Commandline;
+pub use continue_::Continue;
 pub use debug::Debug;
 pub use def::Def;
 pub use def_env::DefEnv;
@@ -55,10 +61,12 @@ pub use hide_env::HideEnv;
 pub use if_::If;
 pub use ignore::Ignore;
 pub use let_::Let;
+pub use loop_::Loop;
 pub use metadata::Metadata;
 pub use module::Module;
 pub use mut_::Mut;
 pub use overlay::*;
+pub use return_::Return;
 pub use try_::Try;
 pub use use_::Use;
 pub use version::Version;

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/return_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+use nu_engine::CallExt;
+use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
+use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
+use nu_protocol::{
+    Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, SyntaxShape, Type, Value,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Return;
+
+impl Command for Return {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "return"
+    }
+
+    fn usage(&self) -> &str {
+        "Return early from a function"
+    }
+
+    fn signature(&self) -> nu_protocol::Signature {
+        Signature::build("return")
+            .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
+            .optional("return_value", SyntaxShape::Any, "optional value to return")
+            .category(Category::Core)
+    }
+
+    fn extra_usage(&self) -> &str {
+        r#"This command is a parser keyword. For details, check:
+  https://www.nushell.sh/book/thinking_in_nu.html"#
+    }
+
+    fn is_parser_keyword(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        engine_state: &EngineState,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
+        call: &Call,
+        _input: PipelineData,
+    ) -> Result<nu_protocol::PipelineData, nu_protocol::ShellError> {
+        let return_value: Option<Value> = call.opt(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
+        if let Some(value) = return_value {
+            Err(ShellError::Return(call.head, Box::new(value)))
+        } else {
+            Err(ShellError::Return(
+                call.head,
+                Box::new(Value::nothing(call.head)),
+            ))
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
+        vec![Example {
+            description: "Return early",
+            example: r#"def foo [] { return }"#,
+            result: None,
+        }]
+    }
+}

crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/while_.rs

@@ -59,15 +59,27 @@ impl Command for While {
                 Value::Bool { val, .. } => {
                     if *val {
                         let block = engine_state.get_block(block.block_id);
-                        eval_block(
+                        match eval_block(
                             engine_state,
                             stack,
                             block,
                             PipelineData::new(call.head),
                             call.redirect_stdout,
                             call.redirect_stderr,
-                        )?
-                        .into_value(call.head);
+                        ) {
+                            Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            Err(ShellError::Continue(_)) => {
+                                continue;
+                            }
+                            Err(err) => {
+                                return Err(err);
+                            }
+                            Ok(pipeline) => {
+                                pipeline.into_value(call.head);
+                            }
+                        }
                     } else {
                         break;
                     }

crates/nu-command/src/default_context.rs

@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ pub fn create_default_context() -> EngineState {
         bind_command! {
             Alias,
             Ast,
+            Break,
             Commandline,
+            Continue,
             Debug,
             Def,
             DefEnv,
@@ -57,9 +59,11 @@ pub fn create_default_context() -> EngineState {
             OverlayNew,
             OverlayHide,
             Let,
+            Loop,
             Metadata,
             Module,
             Mut,
+            Return,
             Try,
             Use,
             Version,

crates/nu-command/src/example_test.rs

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ mod test_examples {
         Ansi, Date, Echo, From, If, Into, LetEnv, Math, Path, Random, Split, SplitColumn, SplitRow,
         Str, StrJoin, StrLength, StrReplace, Url, Wrap,
     };
-    use crate::To;
+    use crate::{Break, Mut, To};
     use itertools::Itertools;
     use nu_protocol::{
         ast::Block,
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ mod test_examples {
             working_set.add_decl(Box::new(Wrap));
             working_set.add_decl(Box::new(LetEnv));
             working_set.add_decl(Box::new(Echo));
+            working_set.add_decl(Box::new(Break));
+            working_set.add_decl(Box::new(Mut));
             // Adding the command that is being tested to the working set
             working_set.add_decl(cmd);
 

crates/nu-command/src/filters/each.rs

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 use super::utils::chain_error_with_input;
-use nu_engine::{eval_block, CallExt};
+use nu_engine::{eval_block_with_early_return, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Closure, Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::{
-    Category, Example, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, Signature,
-    Span, SyntaxShape, Type, Value,
+    Category, Example, IntoInterruptiblePipelineData, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError,
+    Signature, Span, SyntaxShape, Type, Value,
 };
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
                 // it must be converted into an iterator using into_iter().
                 .into_iter()
                 .enumerate()
-                .map(move |(idx, x)| {
+                .map_while(move |(idx, x)| {
                     // with_env() is used here to ensure that each iteration uses
                     // a different set of environment variables.
                     // Hence, a 'cd' in the first loop won't affect the next loop.
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
                     }
 
                     let input_span = x.span();
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         &engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         &block,
@@ -214,10 +214,11 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
                         redirect_stdout,
                         redirect_stderr,
                     ) {
-                        Ok(v) => v.into_value(span),
+                        Ok(v) => Some(v.into_value(span)),
+                        Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => None,
                         Err(error) => {
                             let error = chain_error_with_input(error, input_span);
-                            Value::Error { error }
+                            Some(Value::Error { error })
                         }
                     }
                 })
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
             } => Ok(stream
                 .into_iter()
                 .enumerate()
-                .map(move |(idx, x)| {
+                .map_while(move |(idx, x)| {
                     // with_env() is used here to ensure that each iteration uses
                     // a different set of environment variables.
                     // Hence, a 'cd' in the first loop won't affect the next loop.
@@ -237,7 +238,8 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
 
                     let x = match x {
                         Ok(x) => x,
-                        Err(err) => return Value::Error { error: err },
+                        Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => return None,
+                        Err(err) => return Some(Value::Error { error: err }),
                     };
 
                     if let Some(var) = block.signature.get_positional(0) {
@@ -264,7 +266,7 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
                     }
 
                     let input_span = x.span();
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         &engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         &block,
@@ -272,10 +274,11 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
                         redirect_stdout,
                         redirect_stderr,
                     ) {
-                        Ok(v) => v.into_value(span),
+                        Ok(v) => Some(v.into_value(span)),
+                        Err(ShellError::Break(_)) => None,
                         Err(error) => {
                             let error = chain_error_with_input(error, input_span);
-                            Value::Error { error }
+                            Some(Value::Error { error })
                         }
                     }
                 })
@@ -289,7 +292,7 @@ with 'transpose' first."#
                     }
                 }
 
-                eval_block(
+                eval_block_with_early_return(
                     &engine_state,
                     &mut stack,
                     &block,

crates/nu-command/src/filters/each_while.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use nu_engine::{eval_block, CallExt};
+use nu_engine::{eval_block_with_early_return, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Closure, Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::{
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ impl Command for EachWhile {
                         }
                     }
 
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         &engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         &block,
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ impl Command for EachWhile {
                         }
                     }
 
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         &engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         &block,
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ impl Command for EachWhile {
                     }
                 }
 
-                eval_block(
+                eval_block_with_early_return(
                     &engine_state,
                     &mut stack,
                     &block,

crates/nu-command/src/filters/par_each.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use nu_engine::{eval_block, CallExt};
+use nu_engine::{eval_block_with_early_return, CallExt};
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Closure, Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::{
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ impl Command for ParEach {
                     }
 
                     let val_span = x.span();
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         block,
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ impl Command for ParEach {
                     }
 
                     let val_span = x.span();
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         block,
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ impl Command for ParEach {
                     }
 
                     let val_span = x.span();
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         block,
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ impl Command for ParEach {
                         }
                     }
 
-                    match eval_block(
+                    match eval_block_with_early_return(
                         engine_state,
                         &mut stack,
                         block,
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ impl Command for ParEach {
                     }
                 }
 
-                eval_block(
+                eval_block_with_early_return(
                     engine_state,
                     &mut stack,
                     block,

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/break_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+use nu_test_support::{nu, pipeline};
+
+#[test]
+fn break_for_loop() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".", pipeline(
+        r#"
+        for i in 1..10 { if $i == 2 { break }; print $i }
+        "#
+    ));
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, r#"1"#);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn break_while_loop() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".", pipeline(
+        r#"
+        while true { break }; print "hello"
+        "#
+    ));
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, r#"hello"#);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn break_each() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".", pipeline(
+        r#"
+        [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] | each {|x| if $x > 3 { break }; $x} | math sum
+        "#
+    ));
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, r#"6"#);
+}

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/continue_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+use nu_test_support::{nu, pipeline};
+
+#[test]
+fn continue_for_loop() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".", pipeline(
+        r#"
+        for i in 1..10 { if $i == 2 { continue }; print $i }
+        "#
+    ));
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, r#"1345678910"#);
+}

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/mod.rs

@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ mod alias;
 mod all;
 mod any;
 mod append;
+mod break_;
 mod cal;
 mod cd;
 mod compact;
+mod continue_;
 mod cp;
 mod date;
 mod def;
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ mod redirection;
 mod reduce;
 mod reject;
 mod rename;
+mod return_;
 mod reverse;
 mod rm;
 mod roll;

crates/nu-command/tests/commands/return_.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+use nu_test_support::{nu, pipeline};
+
+#[test]
+fn early_return_if_true() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".", pipeline(
+        r#"
+        def foo [x] { if true { return 2 }; $x }; foo 100
+        "#
+    ));
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, r#"2"#);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn early_return_if_false() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".", pipeline(
+        r#"
+        def foo [x] { if false { return 2 }; $x }; foo 100
+        "#
+    ));
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, r#"100"#);
+}

crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs

@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ pub fn eval_call(
             }
         }
 
-        let result = eval_block(
+        let result = eval_block_with_early_return(
             engine_state,
             &mut callee_stack,
             block,
@@ -944,6 +944,27 @@ pub fn eval_element_with_input(
     }
 }
 
+pub fn eval_block_with_early_return(
+    engine_state: &EngineState,
+    stack: &mut Stack,
+    block: &Block,
+    input: PipelineData,
+    redirect_stdout: bool,
+    redirect_stderr: bool,
+) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
+    match eval_block(
+        engine_state,
+        stack,
+        block,
+        input,
+        redirect_stdout,
+        redirect_stderr,
+    ) {
+        Err(ShellError::Return(_, value)) => Ok(PipelineData::Value(*value, None)),
+        x => x,
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn eval_block(
     engine_state: &EngineState,
     stack: &mut Stack,

crates/nu-engine/src/lib.rs

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ pub use column::get_columns;
 pub use documentation::get_full_help;
 pub use env::*;
 pub use eval::{
-    eval_block, eval_call, eval_expression, eval_expression_with_input, eval_operator,
-    eval_subexpression, eval_variable, redirect_env,
+    eval_block, eval_block_with_early_return, eval_call, eval_expression,
+    eval_expression_with_input, eval_operator, eval_subexpression, eval_variable, redirect_env,
 };
 pub use glob_from::glob_from;

crates/nu-protocol/src/shell_error.rs

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use miette::Diagnostic;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use thiserror::Error;
 
-use crate::{ast::Operator, Span, Type};
+use crate::{ast::Operator, Span, Type, Value};
 
 /// The fundamental error type for the evaluation engine. These cases represent different kinds of errors
 /// the evaluator might face, along with helpful spans to label. An error renderer will take this error value
@@ -828,6 +828,18 @@ Either make sure {0} is a string, or add a 'to_string' entry for it in ENV_CONVE
     #[error("Eval block failed with pipeline input")]
     #[diagnostic(code(nu::shell::eval_block_with_input), url(docsrs))]
     EvalBlockWithInput(#[label("source value")] Span, #[related] Vec<ShellError>),
+
+    /// Break event, which may become an error if used outside of a loop
+    #[error("Break used outside of loop")]
+    Break(#[label = "used outside of loop"] Span),
+
+    /// Continue event, which may become an error if used outside of a loop
+    #[error("Continue used outside of loop")]
+    Continue(#[label = "used outside of loop"] Span),
+
+    /// Return event, which may become an error if used outside of a function
+    #[error("Return used outside of function")]
+    Return(#[label = "used outside of function"] Span, Box<Value>),
 }
 
 impl From<std::io::Error> for ShellError {