SQL Server: creating functions - sql-server

Question

I am trying to apply some logic to my select by creating the following function:
ALTER FUNCTION [dbo].[SelectemnExportObject]
(#TITLE NVARCHAR(MAX))
RETURNS NVARCHAR(20)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE #Str NVARCHAR(MAX) = ''
DECLARE #Definition1 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT DEFINITION1
FROM [dbo].test
WHERE title = #Title)
DECLARE #Definition2 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT DEFINITION2
FROM [dbo].test
WHERE title = #Title)
DECLARE #Definition3 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT DEFINITION3
FROM [dbo].test
WHERE title = #Title)
IF #Definition1 <> ''
SET #str = #Definition1
ELSE IF #Definition2 <> ''
SET #str = #str + '<br />' + #Definition2
ELSE IF #Definition3 <> ''
SET #str = #str + '<br />' + #Definition3
RETURN #Str
END
Am I correct in saying, to call this function is as such?
select *
from [dbo].[SelectemnExportObject]('absconding')
I am trying to create a row of information, cell 1 will contain #str, then will create another called #str2 and so on ..
Will I need to return something else if I want to accomplish this?
I appreciate the help, and apologies in advance if the tagging isn't correct

Answer 1

Because the function is returning a scalar value, it is a scalar function you would call it like:
select [dbo].[SelectemnExportObject]('absconding') AS [Str1]
,[dbo].[SelectemnExportObject]('abscondin2') AS [Str2]
If the function was returning a table (Inline table valued function or Multi-statement valued function) then you would need to call it/select from it as you were selecting from a table.
select * from [dbo].[SelectemnExportObject]('absconding')
Edit
To make your Function return multiple values you would need to convert this function into a multi-statement table valued function. The function definition would look something like....
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[SelectemnExportObject] ( #TITLE NVARCHAR(MAX) )
RETURNS #Result TABLE
(Str1 NVARCHAR(MAX) NOT NULL,
Str2 NVARCHAR(MAX) NOT NULL)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE #Str1 NVARCHAR(MAX) = '';
DECLARE #Str2 NVARCHAR(MAX) = '';
/* Populate the values of #Str1 and #Str2 how ever you need to */
INSERT INTO #Result (Str1 , Str2)
VALUES (#Str1 , #Str2)
RETURN;
END