diff --git a/xarray/core/dataarray.py b/xarray/core/dataarray.py
index 80dcfe1302c..509962ff80d 100644
--- a/xarray/core/dataarray.py
+++ b/xarray/core/dataarray.py
@@ -1126,6 +1126,8 @@ def load(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
         """Manually trigger loading of this array's data from disk or a
         remote source into memory and return this array.
 
+        Unlike compute, the original dataset is modified and returned.
+
         Normally, it should not be necessary to call this method in user code,
         because all xarray functions should either work on deferred data or
         load data automatically. However, this method can be necessary when
@@ -1148,8 +1150,9 @@ def load(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
 
     def compute(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
         """Manually trigger loading of this array's data from disk or a
-        remote source into memory and return a new array. The original is
-        left unaltered.
+        remote source into memory and return a new array.
+
+        Unlike load, the original is left unaltered.
 
         Normally, it should not be necessary to call this method in user code,
         because all xarray functions should either work on deferred data or
@@ -1161,6 +1164,11 @@ def compute(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
         **kwargs : dict
             Additional keyword arguments passed on to ``dask.compute``.
 
+        Returns
+        -------
+        object : DataArray
+            New object with the data and all coordinates as in-memory arrays.
+
         See Also
         --------
         dask.compute
@@ -1174,12 +1182,18 @@ def persist(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
         This keeps them as dask arrays but encourages them to keep data in
         memory.  This is particularly useful when on a distributed machine.
         When on a single machine consider using ``.compute()`` instead.
+        Like compute (but unlike load), the original dataset is left unaltered.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         **kwargs : dict
             Additional keyword arguments passed on to ``dask.persist``.
 
+        Returns
+        -------
+        object : DataArray
+            New object with all dask-backed data and coordinates as persisted dask arrays.
+
         See Also
         --------
         dask.persist
diff --git a/xarray/core/dataset.py b/xarray/core/dataset.py
index 2c0b3e89722..4c80a47209e 100644
--- a/xarray/core/dataset.py
+++ b/xarray/core/dataset.py
@@ -1005,6 +1005,11 @@ def compute(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
         **kwargs : dict
             Additional keyword arguments passed on to ``dask.compute``.
 
+        Returns
+        -------
+        object : Dataset
+            New object with lazy data variables and coordinates as in-memory arrays.
+
         See Also
         --------
         dask.compute
@@ -1037,12 +1042,18 @@ def persist(self, **kwargs) -> Self:
         operation keeps the data as dask arrays. This is particularly useful
         when using the dask.distributed scheduler and you want to load a large
         amount of data into distributed memory.
+        Like compute (but unlike load), the original dataset is left unaltered.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         **kwargs : dict
             Additional keyword arguments passed on to ``dask.persist``.
 
+        Returns
+        -------
+        object : Dataset
+            New object with all dask-backed coordinates and data variables as persisted dask arrays.
+
         See Also
         --------
         dask.persist