Method with boolean return - if else vs. if

Question

Take for example the following two statements:

if (booleanVariable)
{
  doSomething();

  return true;
}
else
{
  return false;
}

and

if (booleanVariable)
{
  doSomething();

  return true;
}

return false;

Which one would be preferred?

They both return the same result in the end.

Any reason one would be better to use than the other?

Answer 1

Personally, I think the cleanest way would be

if (booleanVariable) {
    doSomething();
}
return booleanVariable;

Moving the redundant returns outside the if block highlights what you are doing differently if the variable is set.