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Create A Function

C++ allows you to create user-defined functions that perform specific tasks. Functions are declared with a name and parameters, and defined with a block of code. To execute a function, it must be called from elsewhere in the code. Functions can take parameters as input, and return values as output. This allows for modularity and code reuse.

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Erickson Barrientos
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24 views

Create A Function

C++ allows you to create user-defined functions that perform specific tasks. Functions are declared with a name and parameters, and defined with a block of code. To execute a function, it must be called from elsewhere in the code. Functions can take parameters as input, and return values as output. This allows for modularity and code reuse.

Uploaded by

Erickson Barrientos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Create a Function

C++ provides some pre-defined functions, such as main(), which is used to


execute code. But you can also create your own functions to perform certain
actions.

To create (often referred to as declare) a function, specify the name of the


function, followed by parentheses ():

Syntax
void myFunction() {
// code to be executed
}

Example Explained

 myFunction() is the name of the function


 void means that the function does not have a return value. You will learn
more about return values later in the next chapter
 inside the function (the body), add code that defines what the function
should do

Call a Function
Declared functions are not executed immediately. They are "saved for later
use", and will be executed later, when they are called.

To call a function, write the function's name followed by two parentheses () and
a semicolon ;

In the following example, myFunction() is used to print a text (the action),


when it is called:

Example
Inside main, call myFunction():
// Create a function
void myFunction() {
cout << "I just got executed!";
}

int main() {
myFunction(); // call the function
return 0;
}

// Outputs "I just got executed!"

A function can be called multiple times:

Example
void myFunction() {
cout << "I just got executed!\n";
}

int main() {
myFunction();
myFunction();
myFunction();
return 0;
}

// I just got executed!


// I just got executed!
// I just got executed!

Run example »

Parameters and Arguments


Information can be passed to functions as a parameter. Parameters act as
variables inside the function.

Parameters are specified after the function name, inside the parentheses. You
can add as many parameters as you want, just separate them with a comma:
Syntax
void functionName(parameter1, parameter2, parameter3) {
// code to be executed
}

The following example has a function that takes a string called fname as
parameter. When the function is called, we pass along a first name, which is
used inside the function to print the full name:

Example
void myFunction(string fname) {
cout << fname << " Refsnes\n";
}

int main() {
myFunction("Liam");
myFunction("Jenny");
myFunction("Anja");
return 0;
}

// Liam Refsnes
// Jenny Refsnes
// Anja Refsnes

When a parameter is passed to the function, it is called an argument. So,


from the example above: fname is a parameter,
while Liam, Jenny and Anja are arguments.

Default Parameter Value


You can also use a default parameter value, by using the equals sign (=). If we
call the function without an argument, it uses the default value ("Norway"):

Example
void myFunction(string country = "Norway") {
cout << country << "\n";
}

int main() {
myFunction("Sweden");
myFunction("India");
myFunction();
myFunction("USA");
return 0;
}

// Sweden
// India
// Norway
// USA

Multiple Parameters
You can add as many parameters as you want:

Example
void myFunction(string fname, int age) {
cout << fname << " Refsnes. " << age << " years old. \n";
}

int main() {
myFunction("Liam", 3);
myFunction("Jenny", 14);
myFunction("Anja", 30);
return 0;
}

// Liam Refsnes. 3 years old.


// Jenny Refsnes. 14 years old.
// Anja Refsnes. 30 years old.

Return Values
The void keyword, used in the examples above, indicates that the function
should not return a value. If you want the function to return a value, you can
use a data type (such as int, string, etc.) instead of void, and use
the return keyword inside the function:

Example
int myFunction(int x) {
return 5 + x;
}

int main() {
cout << myFunction(3);
return 0;
}

// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)

This example returns the sum of a function with two parameters:

Example
int myFunction(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

int main() {
cout << myFunction(5, 3);
return 0;
}

// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)

You can also store the result in a variable:

Example
int myFunction(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

int main() {
int z = myFunction(5, 3);
cout << z;
return 0;
}
// Outputs 8 (5 + 3)

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