function-body.md

description	title	ms.date	helpviewer_keywords	ms.assetid
Learn more about: Function Body	Function Body	11/04/2016	functions [C], syntax variables, function syntax function definitions, function body function body	f7e74822-fac8-4dc8-8f3a-2b1611da4640

Function Body

A function body is a compound statement containing the statements that specify what the function does.

Syntax

function-definition:
 declaration-specifiers_opt attribute-seq_opt declarator declaration-list_opt compound-statement

/* attribute-seq is Microsoft-specific */

compound-statement: /* The function body */
 { declaration-list_opt statement-list_opt }

Variables declared in a function body, known as local variables, have auto storage class unless otherwise specified. When the function is called, storage is created for the local variables, and local initializations are performed. Execution control passes to the first statement in compound-statement and continues until a return statement is executed or the end of the function body is encountered. Control then returns to the point at which the function was called.

A return statement containing an expression must be executed if the function is to return a value. The return value of a function is undefined if no return statement is executed or if the return statement doesn't include an expression.

See also

C Function Definitions