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In C++, a function is a block of code designed to perform a specific task. Functions make code modular and reusable, helping programmers write less redundant code. When you define a function, you specify its return type, name, and any parameters it might take. This allows you to execute the same set of instructions multiple times without having to write them out each time.

Functions in C++ are typically defined outside of the `main()` function, providing separation between core processing logic and program flow. Here’s a simple example of a function in C++:

• int sum(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

This function, `sum`, takes two integer parameters and returns their sum. Functions not only make code easier to understand but also optimize the performance of larger programs by reusing code blocks.

The "return" statement is a fundamental concept in most programming languages, including C++. It serves as the mechanism to exit a function and optionally send back a value to the caller. You can think of it as a "stop here and return this value" command.

When a `return` statement is executed within a function, two things happen:

• The function immediately stops executing.
• The control is transferred back to the location in the program where the function was called.

The `return` statement is crucial when you want to compute a value within a function and make this result available to the rest of your program. In the example

• return a + b;, within a function will calculate the sum and send it back to the main program flow.

If you omit a return statement in a function that expects a result, it can cause unpredictable behavior, such as returning garbage values.

Programming languages are formal languages that consist of a set of instructions used to produce various outputs. These languages are used to control the behavior of a machine, predominantly computers. C++ is one amongst such programming languages, widely used due to its performance and extensive application domains like system/software, game development, and real-time simulation.

Common features shared among programming languages include:

• Syntax: This defines the structure of code.
• Semantics: These are the meanings of the syntactic entities.
• Libraries: These provide additional functionality and simplify tasks.

C++ is particularly known for its ability to provide low-level hardware interaction with high-level user interface facilitation. Since resources in a computer are managed efficiently in C++, developers often choose it for optimizing speed and performance.

Understanding the core features of any programming language, including the ones shared above, aids in comprehending and mastering a language like C++ effectively.