python · gpshead · Apr 24, 2023 · May 2, 2022 · May 2, 2022 · May 2, 2022
diff --git a/Doc/library/subprocess.rst b/Doc/library/subprocess.rst
@@ -894,8 +894,10 @@ The following attributes are also available:
 
 .. attribute:: Popen.returncode
 
-   The child return code, set by :meth:`poll` and :meth:`wait` (and indirectly
-   by :meth:`communicate`).  A ``None`` value indicates that the process
+   The child return code. Initially ``None``, :attr:`returncode` is set by 
+   :meth:`poll` and :meth:`wait` after process termination is observed.
+
+   A ``None`` value indicates that the process
    hasn't terminated yet.
 
    A negative value ``-N`` indicates that the child was terminated by signal

diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2022-05-02-19-52-55.gh-issue-87452._N1t5V.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2022-05-02-19-52-55.gh-issue-87452._N1t5V.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2022-05-02-20-59-46.gh-issue-87452._N1t5V.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2022-05-02-20-59-46.gh-issue-87452._N1t5V.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Here we make it explicit that the returncode attribute can be outdated and then that the returncode is most reliability found by using poll().