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c Functions

A function in C is a group of statements that perform a specific task, with every C program having at least one function, main(). Function declarations inform the compiler about a function's name, return type, and parameters, while function definitions provide the actual implementation. Functions can be called to execute their defined tasks, and arguments can be passed by value or by reference, with C defaulting to call by value.

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2 views

c Functions

A function in C is a group of statements that perform a specific task, with every C program having at least one function, main(). Function declarations inform the compiler about a function's name, return type, and parameters, while function definitions provide the actual implementation. Functions can be called to execute their defined tasks, and arguments can be passed by value or by reference, with C defaulting to call by value.

Uploaded by

srimanthnivas090
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A function is a group of statements that together perform a task.

Every C program has at least one function, which is main(), and all
the most trivial programs can define additional functions.

You can divide up your code into separate functions. How you divide
up your code among different functions is up to you, but logically
the division is such that each function performs a specific task.

A function declaration tells the compiler about a function's name,


return type, and parameters. A function definition provides the
actual body of the function.

The C standard library provides numerous built-in functions that


your program can call. For example, strcat() to concatenate two
strings, memcpy() to copy one memory location to another
location, and many more functions.

A function can also be referred as a method or a sub-routine or a


procedure, etc.

Defining a Function
The general form of a function definition in C programming language
is as follows −

return_type function_name( parameter list ) {


body of the function
}

A function definition in C programming consists of a function


header and a function body. Here are all the parts of a function −

 Return Type − A function may return a value.


The return_type is the data type of the value the function
returns. Some functions perform the desired operations
without returning a value. In this case, the return_type is the
keyword void.
 Function Name − This is the actual name of the function. The
function name and the parameter list together constitute the
function signature.
 Parameters − A parameter is like a placeholder. When a
function is invoked, you pass a value to the parameter. This
value is referred to as actual parameter or argument. The
parameter list refers to the type, order, and number of the
parameters of a function. Parameters are optional; that is, a
function may contain no parameters.
 Function Body − The function body contains a collection of
statements that define what the function does.

Example
Given below is the source code for a function called max(). This
function takes two parameters num1 and num2 and returns the
maximum value between the two −

/* function returning the max between two numbers */


int max(int num1, int num2) {

/* local variable declaration */


int result;

if (num1 > num2)


result = num1;
else
result = num2;

return result;
}

Function Declarations
A function declaration tells the compiler about a function name
and how to call the function. The actual body of the function can be
defined separately.

A function declaration has the following parts −

return_type function_name( parameter list );

For the above defined function max(), the function declaration is as


follows −
int max(int num1, int num2);

Parameter names are not important in function declaration only


their type is required, so the following is also a valid declaration −

int max(int, int);

Function declaration is required when you define a function in one


source file and you call that function in another file. In such case,
you should declare the function at the top of the file calling the
function.

Calling a Function
While creating a C function, you give a definition of what the
function has to do. To use a function, you will have to call that
function to perform the defined task.

When a program calls a function, the program control is transferred


to the called function. A called function performs a defined task and
when its return statement is executed or when its function-ending
closing brace is reached, it returns the program control back to the
main program.

To call a function, you simply need to pass the required parameters


along with the function name, and if the function returns a value,
then you can store the returned value. For example −

Live Demo
#include <stdio.h>

/* function declaration */
int max(int num1, int num2);

int main () {

/* local variable definition */


int a = 100;
int b = 200;
int ret;

/* calling a function to get max value */


ret = max(a, b);

printf( "Max value is : %d\n", ret );

return 0;
}

/* function returning the max between two numbers */


int max(int num1, int num2) {

/* local variable declaration */


int result;

if (num1 > num2)


result = num1;
else
result = num2;

return result;
}

We have kept max() along with main() and compiled the source
code. While running the final executable, it would produce the
following result −

Max value is : 200

Function Arguments
If a function is to use arguments, it must declare variables that
accept the values of the arguments. These variables are called
the formal parameters of the function.

Formal parameters behave like other local variables inside the


function and are created upon entry into the function and destroyed
upon exit.

While calling a function, there are two ways in which arguments can
be passed to a function −

Sr.N
Call Type & Description
o.
Call by value
This method copies the actual value of an argument into
1 the formal parameter of the function. In this case, changes
made to the parameter inside the function have no effect
on the argument.
Call by reference
This method copies the address of an argument into the
2 formal parameter. Inside the function, the address is used
to access the actual argument used in the call. This means
that changes made to the parameter affect the argument.

By default, C uses call by value to pass arguments. In general, it


means the code within a function cannot alter the arguments used
to call the function.

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