Detailed concept of function in c programming

WHAT IS C FUNCTION?
 A large C program is divided into basic building blocks called C
function.
 C function contains set of instructions enclosed by “{ }” which
performs specific operation in a C program.
 Every C program has at least one function, which is main().

WHAT IS C FUNCTION?
 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,
 A function can also be referred as a method or a sub-routine or a
procedure, etc.

USES OF C FUNCTIONS
 C functions are used to avoid rewriting same logic/code again
and again in a program.
 There is no limit in calling C functions to make use of same
functionality wherever required.
 A large C program can easily be tracked when it is divided into
functions.
 The core concept of C functions are, re-usability, dividing a big
task into small pieces to achieve the functionality and to
improve understandability of very large C programs.

Function declaration:
In a function declaration, we must provide the function name, its return type,
and the number and type of its parameters. A function declaration tells the
compiler that there is a function with the given name defined somewhere
else in the program.
Syntax
Example
return_type function_name (argument list);

Function definition:
The function definition consists of actual statements which are executed when
the function is called (i.e. when the program control comes to the function).
A C function is generally defined and declared in a single step because the
function definition always starts with the function declaration so we do not
need to declare it explicitly. The below example serves as both a function
definition and a declaration.
return_type function_name (arguments/parameter list)
{
Body of function;
}

Function call:
• A function call is a statement that instructs the compiler to execute the
function. We use the function name and parameters in the function call.
• The parameter list must not differ in function calling and function
declaration. We must pass the same number of functions as it is declared
in the function declaration.
Syntax
function_name (arguments/parameter list);

 Function definition:
return_type function_name (arguments list)
{
Body of function;
}
 Function call: function_name (arguments list);
 Function declaration:
return_type function_name (argument list);

FUNCTION DECLARATION, FUNCTION CALL AND FUNCTION DEFINITION
 There are 3 aspects in each C function. They are:
 Function declaration or prototype – This informs compiler about the
function name, function parameters and return value’s data type.
 Function call – This calls the actual function
 Function definition – This contains all the statements to be executed.

#include <stdio.h>
// Function declaration (prototype)
int add(int a, int b);
int main()
{
int num1 = 5;
int num2 = 7;
int result;
// Function call
result = add(num1, num2);
printf("The sum is: %dn", result);
return 0;
}
// Function definition
int add(int a, int b)
{
return a + b;
}

#include<stdio.h>
int square ( int ); // function prototype, also called function declaration
int main( )
{
int m, n ;
printf ( "nEnter some number for finding square n");
scanf ( "%d", &m ) ;
n = square (m) ; // function call
printf ("nSquare of the given number %d is %d",m,n );
}
int square ( int x ) // function definition
{
int p ;
p = x * x ;
return p;
}

TYPES OF FUNCTIONS
There are two types of functions in C programming:
Library Functions: are the functions which are declared in the C
header files such as scanf(), printf(), gets(), puts(), pow() etc.
User-defined functions: are the functions which are created by the
C programmer, so that he/she can use it many times. It reduces
the complexity of a big program and optimizes the code.

HOW TO CALL C FUNCTIONS IN A PROGRAM?
 There are two ways that a C function can be called from a program.
They are:
 Call by value
 Call by reference
Types of function parameters:
 Actual parameter – This is the argument which is used in function
call.
 Formal parameter – This is the argument which is used in function
definition

CALL BY VALUE
 In call by value method, the copy of the variable is passed to the
function as parameter.
 The value of the actual parameter can not be modified by formal
parameter.
 Different Memory is allocated for both actual and formal
parameters. Because, value of actual parameter is copied to formal
parameter.
Note:

#include<stdio.h>
void swap(int a, int b); // function prototype, also called function declaration
void main()
{
int m = 22, n = 44;
printf(" values before swap m = %d n and n = %d", m, n);
swap(m, n); //call by value
printf(" nvalues after swap m = %dn and n = %d", m, n);
getch();
}
void swap(int m, int n)
{
int tmp;
tmp = m;
m = n;
n = tmp;
printf(" nvalues after swap m = %dn and n = %d", m, n);
}

CALL BY REFERENCE
 In call by reference method, the address of the variable is
passed to the function as parameter.
 The value of the actual parameter can be modified by formal
parameter.
 Same memory is used for both actual and formal parameters
since only address is used by both parameters.

#include<stdio.h>
void swap(int *, int *); // function prototype, also called function declaration
void main()
{
int m = 22, n = 44;
printf("values before swap m = %d n and n = %d",m,n);
swap(&m, &n); // calling swap function by reference
printf("n values after swap m = %d n and n = %d", m, n);
getch();
}
void swap(int *a, int *b)
{
int tmp;
tmp = *a;
*a = *b;
*b = tmp;
printf("n Swap function values after swap a = %d nand b = %d", *a, *b);
}

C - SCOPE RULES
 A scope in any programming is a region of the program where
a defined variable can have its existence and beyond that
variable it cannot be accessed.
 There are three places where variables can be declared in C
programming language −
 Inside a function or a block which is called local variables.
 Outside of all functions which is called global variables.
 In the definition of function parameters which are called formal
parameters.

LOCAL VARIABLES
 Variables that are declared inside a function or block are called
local variables.
 They can be used only by statements that are inside that
function or block of code.
 Local variables are not known to functions outside their own.

We can define the User defined functions in multiple ways
 Function with no argument and no Return value
 Function with no argument and with Return value
 Function with argument and No Return value
 Function with argument and Return value

Function with No argument and No Return value
In this method, We won’t pass any arguments to the function while
defining, declaring or calling the function. This type of functions will not
return any value when we call the function from main() or any sub
function. When we are not expecting any return value but, we need
some statements to be printed as output then, this type of functions are
very useful.
#include<stdio.h>
void Addition(); // Function Declaration
int main()
{
printf("n ............. n");
Addition(); // Function call
}
void Addition()
{
int Sum, a = 10, b = 20;
Sum = a + b;
printf("n Sum of a = %d and b = %d is = %d", a, b, Sum);
}

Function with no argument and with Return value
n this method, We won’t pass any arguments to the function while defining, declaring or calling the function.
This type of functions will return some value when we call the function from main() or any sub function.
Data Type of the return value will depend upon the return type of function declaration.
For instance, if the return type is int then return value will be int.
#include<stdio.h>
int Multiplication();
int main()
{
int Multi;
Multi = Multiplication();
printf("n Multiplication of a and b is = %d n", Multi );
return 0;
}
int Multiplication()
{
int Multi, a = 20, b = 40;
Multi = a * b;
return Multi;
}

Function with argument and No Return value
This method allows us to pass the arguments to the function while calling the function. But, This type of functions will not
return any value when we call the function from main () or any sub function.
#include<stdio.h>
int Addition(int, int);
Int main()
{
int a, b;
printf("n Please Enter two integer values n");
scanf("%d %d",&a, &b);
Addition(a, b);
}
int Addition(int a, int b)
{
int Sum;
Sum = a + b;
printf("n Additiontion of %d and %d is = %d n", a, b, Sum);
}

Function with argument and Return value
This method allows us to pass the arguments to the function while calling the function. This type of functions will return
some value when we call the function from main () or any sub function. Data Type of the return value will depend upon the
return type of function declaration. For instance, if the return type is int then return value will be int.
#include<stdio.h>
int Multiplication(int, int);
int main()
{
int a, b, Multi;
printf("n Please Enter two integer values n");
scanf("%d %d",&a, &b);
Multi = Multiplication(a, b);
printf("n Multiplication of %d and %d is = %d n", a, b,
Multi);
return 0;
}
int Multiplication(int a, int b)
{
int Multi;
Multi = a * b;
return Multi;
}

Recursion
A function that calls itself is known as a recursive function.And, this technique is known as recursion.
 In programming languages, if a program allows you to call a function inside the same function, then it
is called a recursive call of the function.
Syntax:
void recursion()
{
recursion(); /* function calls itself */
}
int main()
{
recursion();
}

Factorial using Recursion
#include <stdio.h>
int fact (int);
int main()
{
int n,f;
printf("Enter the number whose f
actorial you want to calculate?");
scanf("%d",&n);
f = fact(n);
printf("factorial = %d",f);
}
int fact(int n)
{
if (n==0)
{
return 0;
}
else if ( n == 1)
{
return 1;
}
else
{
return n*fact(n-1);
}
}

Advantages & Disadvantages of Recursion
Advantage
Recursion makes program elegant and cleaner.All algorithms can be defined recursively which makes it easier to visualize and prove.
Reduce unnecessary calling of function.
Disadvantage
If the speed of the program is vital then, you should avoid using recursion. Recursions use more memory and are generally slow.
Instead, you can use loop.
programmers need to be careful to define an exit condition from the function, otherwise it will go into an infinite loop.
Recursive solution is always logical and it is very difficult to trace.(debug and understand).
In recursive we must have an if statement somewhere to force the function to return without the recursive call being executed,
otherwise the function will never return.
Recursion takes a lot of stack space, usually not considerable when the program is small and running on a PC.
Recursion uses more processor time

• C Standard library functions or simply C Library functions are inbuilt functions in C programming.
• The prototype and data definitions of the functions are present in their respective header files, and must be
included in your program to access them.
Advantages of using standard library functions:
1. They work
These functions have gone through multiple rigorous testing and are easy to use.
2. The functions are optimized for performance
In the process, they are able to create the most efficient code optimized for maximum performance.
3. It saves considerable development time
Since the general functions like printing to a screen, calculating the square root, and many more are already written.
You shouldn't worry about creating them once again.
It saves valuable time and your code may not always be the most efficient.
3. The functions are portable
With ever changing real world needs, your application is expected to work every time, everywhere.
And, these library functions help you in that they do the same thing on every computer.
This saves time, effort and makes your program portable.
Library functions

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>
int main()
{
float num, root;
printf("Enter a number: ");
scanf("%f", &num); // Computes the square root of num and stores in root.
root = sqrt(num);
printf("Square root of %.2f = %.2f", num, root);
return 0;
}

Some more examples of Library functions:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>
#define PI 3.141592654
int main()
{
double num = 3.0;
double result;
result = atan(num);
printf("Inverse of tan(%.2f) = %.2f in radians",
num, result);
return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>
#define PI 3.141592654
int main()
{
double num = 0.0;
double result;
result = acos(num);
printf("Inverse of tan(%.2f) = %.2f in
radians", num, result);

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>
#define PI 3.141592654
int main()
{
double num = 2.0;
double result;
result = cos(num);
printf("Inverse of tan(%.2f) = %.2f in radians",
num, result);
return 0;
}

Detailed concept of function in c programming

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Similar to Detailed concept of function in c programming (20)

More from anjanasharma77573 (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Detailed concept of function in c programming