What is a hard return in writing?

In writing, a hard return (also known as a carriage return) is an explicit line break. When a writer presses Enter or Return on their keyboard, they create a hard return in their electronic document.

When writing code or computer instructions, hard returns often mean moving to the next line without adding extra space. Some other writing programs interpret it as moving all remaining text, below where one is typing, all the way to the bottom; or adding extra space around the cursor line; among other actions, which depend on individual programs and/or settings.