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Types of User-Defined Functions in C Programming

This document discusses 4 examples of user-defined functions in C that check if a number is prime. Example 1 defines a function without arguments or return value that takes input and displays output. Example 2 defines a function without arguments but with a return value that takes input and returns the number. Example 3 defines a function with an argument but no return value that checks a passed number and displays output. Example 4 defines a function with an argument and return value that checks a passed number and returns a value indicating prime status. The document concludes that Example 4's approach of passing an argument and returning a value is generally better.

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Harshit Naik
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82 views6 pages

Types of User-Defined Functions in C Programming

This document discusses 4 examples of user-defined functions in C that check if a number is prime. Example 1 defines a function without arguments or return value that takes input and displays output. Example 2 defines a function without arguments but with a return value that takes input and returns the number. Example 3 defines a function with an argument but no return value that checks a passed number and displays output. Example 4 defines a function with an argument and return value that checks a passed number and returns a value indicating prime status. The document concludes that Example 4's approach of passing an argument and returning a value is generally better.

Uploaded by

Harshit Naik
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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programiz.

com

Types of User-defined Functions in C


Programming

5-6 minutes

These 4 programs below check whether the integer entered by the


user is a prime number or not.

The output of all these programs below is the same, and we have
created a user-defined function in each example. However, the
approach we have taken in each example is different.

Example 1: No arguments passed and no return


value

#include <stdio.h>

void checkPrimeNumber();

int main()
{
checkPrimeNumber(); // argument is not
passed
return 0;
}

// return type is void meaning doesn't return any


value
void checkPrimeNumber()
{
int n, i, flag = 0;

printf("Enter a positive integer: ");


scanf("%d",&n);
for(i=2; i <= n/2; ++i)
{
if(n%i == 0)
{
flag = 1;
}
}
if (flag == 1)
printf("%d is not a prime number.", n);
else
printf("%d is a prime number.", n);
}

The checkPrimeNumber() function takes input from the user,


checks whether it is a prime number or not and displays it on the
screen.

The empty parentheses in checkPrimeNumber(); statement


inside the main() function indicates that no argument is passed to
the function.

The return type of the function is void. Hence, no value is returned


from the function.

Example 2: No arguments passed but a return value

#include <stdio.h>
int getInteger();

int main()
{
int n, i, flag = 0;

// no argument is passed
n = getInteger();

for(i=2; i<=n/2; ++i)


{
if(n%i==0){
flag = 1;
break;
}
}

if (flag == 1)
printf("%d is not a prime number.", n);
else
printf("%d is a prime number.", n);

return 0;
}

// returns integer entered by the user


int getInteger()
{
int n;

printf("Enter a positive integer: ");


scanf("%d",&n);

return n;
}

The empty parentheses in the n = getInteger(); statement


indicates that no argument is passed to the function. And, the value
returned from the function is assigned to n.

Here, the getInteger() function takes input from the user and
returns it. The code to check whether a number is prime or not is
inside the main() function.

Example 3: Argument passed but no return value

#include <stdio.h>
void checkPrimeAndDisplay(int n);

int main()
{
int n;

printf("Enter a positive integer: ");


scanf("%d",&n);
// n is passed to the function
checkPrimeAndDisplay(n);

return 0;
}

// return type is void meaning doesn't return any


value
void checkPrimeAndDisplay(int n)
{
int i, flag = 0;

for(i=2; i <= n/2; ++i)


{
if(n%i == 0){
flag = 1;
break;
}
}
if(flag == 1)
printf("%d is not a prime number.",n);
else
printf("%d is a prime number.", n);
}

The integer value entered by the user is passed to the


checkPrimeAndDisplay() function.

Here, the checkPrimeAndDisplay() function checks whether


the argument passed is a prime number or not and displays the
appropriate message.

Example 4: Argument passed and a return value

#include <stdio.h>
int checkPrimeNumber(int n);

int main()
{
int n, flag;
printf("Enter a positive integer: ");
scanf("%d",&n);

// n is passed to the checkPrimeNumber()


function
// the returned value is assigned to the flag
variable
flag = checkPrimeNumber(n);

if(flag == 1)
printf("%d is not a prime number",n);
else
printf("%d is a prime number",n);

return 0;
}

// int is returned from the function


int checkPrimeNumber(int n)
{
int i;

for(i=2; i <= n/2; ++i)


{
if(n%i == 0)
return 1;
}

return 0;
}

The input from the user is passed to the checkPrimeNumber()


function.

The checkPrimeNumber() function checks whether the passed


argument is prime or not.

If the passed argument is a prime number, the function returns 0. If


the passed argument is a non-prime number, the function returns 1.
The return value is assigned to the flag variable.
Depending on whether flag is 0 or 1, an appropriate message is
printed from the main() function.

Which approach is better?

Well, it depends on the problem you are trying to solve. In this


case, passing argument and returning a value from the function
(example 4) is better.

A function should perform a specific task. The


checkPrimeNumber() function doesn't take input from the user
nor it displays the appropriate message. It only checks whether a
number is prime or not.

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