Functions

1
Functions in C
✧ What is a function in C?
✧ A program segment that carries out some specific,
well-defined task

✧ Example:
✧ A function to add two numbers
✧ A function to find the largest of n numbers

✧ A function will carry out its intended task whenever it

is called or invoked
✧ Can be called multiple times

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Functions – Characteristics
✧ Every C program consists of one or more functions

✧ One of these functions must be called main()

✧ Every C program has at least one function – 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

✧ Note that the execution of a C program always

begins by carrying out the instructions in main()
✧ Functions call other functions as instructions
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Defining a Function
✧ The general skeleton of a function in C is as follows:
return_type function_name ( parameter list ) {
// body of the function
}
✧ A function definition in C consists of:
✧ a function header and
✧ a function body

✧ Function Declaration:
✧ Tells the compiler about a function's name, return
type, and parameters
✧ A function definition provides the actual body of the
function
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Functions - Components
✧ 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:
✧ Actual name of the function
✧ The function name and the parameter list together
constitute the function signature.

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Functions – Components (contd)
✧ 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; this means that a function
may contain no parameters as well
✧ Formal parameters vs Actual parameters

✧ Function Body:
✧ The function body contains a collection of statements
that define what
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- Functions does.
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7

Calling function (Caller)

Called function (Callee) parameter

void main() float cent2fahr(float data)

{ float cent, fahr; {
scanf(“%f”,&cent); float result;
fahr = cent2fahr(cent); result = data*9/5 + 32;
printf(“%fC = %fF\n”, return result;
cent, fahr);
}
}

Parameter passed
Returning value
Calling/Invoking the cent2fahr function
Functions – An example
✧ The following function returns the max between
two numbers Function Paramerters
Function
(formal parameters)
Name

int getMax (int num1, int num2) {

/* local variable declaration */
Return int result;
Type
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1; Body of the function
Return else
value result = num2;
return result;
} CP - Functions - Basics -
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Scope of the Variables
✧ Scope of the variables defined in a function?

int getMax (int num1, int num2) {

/* local variable declaration */
int result;
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;The values of the variables:
else num1, num2, and results are
purely local in this function.
result = num2;
Once the execution is over,
return result; these variables are not available
} for other parts of the program

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Functions – A Simplified Example
✧ A simplified version of the same function that finds
the maximum of two integers: m, n

int getMax(int num1, int num2) {

return ((num1 > num2) ? num1 : num2);
}

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Functions – main()
✧ How do we call getMax function from main()?

int main(void) {
int m = 10, n = 27;
printf("\nm = %d, n = %d\n", m, n);

int max = getMax(m,n);

printf("\nMax = %d\n", max);

return 0;
}

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Function that finds max(m,n)
/* The complete Program – finding max of m and n */
#include <stdio.h>

int getMax(int num1, int num2) {

return ((num1 > num2) ? num1 : num2);
}

int main(void) {
Function
int m = 10, n = 27; getMax() is
printf("\nm = %d, n = %d\n", m, n); defined before
main(). So
int max = getMax(m,n); function
printf("\nMax = %d\n", max); declaration is
return 0; implicit
}

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Where is the function defined?
/* The complete Program – finding max of m and n */
#include <stdio.h>

/* Function Declaration is required */

int getMax(int, int); Function getMax() is
defined afer main().
int main(void) {
int m = 10, n = 27; So the function declaration
printf("\nm = %d, n = %d\n", m, n); is needed
/* Calling the function */
int max = getMax(m,n);

printf("\nMax = %d\n", max);

return 0;
}
int getMax(int num1, int num2) {
return ((num1 > num2) ? num1 : num2);
}
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14

Function Prototypes
• Function prototypes are usually written at the
beginning of a program, ahead of any functions
(including main())
• Prototypes can specify parameter names or just
types (more common)
• Examples:
int gcd (int , int );
void div7 (int number);
• Note the semicolon at the end of the line.
• The parameter name, if specifed, can be
anything; but it is a good practice to use the
same names as in the function definition
Function Arguments
✧ Formal Parameters:
✧ 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 local variables
inside the function and are created upon entry
into the function and destroyed upon exit
✧ Two ways to call a function:
✧ Call by Value
✧ Call by Reference

✧ arguments can be passed to a function using any

o the above way
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A Simple Function
✧ Let us look at the following function

void PrintGreetings() {
printf(“\nWelcome”);
printf(“\n This is Anna Univ\n”);
}

✧ The above function has

✧ no arguments and
✧ no return value
✧ But prints the greetings message

✧ Functions can also have arguments (one or more

depending on the specific task in hand

✧ Let us look at some more examples in the sequel.

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Function with one argument
✧ Compute and print the sum of the first N natural Numbers
✧ This function does not need to return any value.
#include <stdio.h>
/* Method 1 – Using FOR loop */
void printSumN( int n ) {
int i = 0, sum = 0;
for (i = 0; i < n + 1; i++) {
sum += i;
}
printf("\nMethod - 1: \nN = %d, SUM = %d\n", n, sum);
}

int main() {
int m = 10;
printSumN(m); /* Calling Method - 1 */
return 0;
}
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An Updated getSumN(n)
✧ Compute and print the sum of the first N natural Numbers
✧ Another approach using two variables.
#include <stdio.h>

void getSumN( int n ) { /* Method 2 - Using two variables, left(MIN) & right(MAX)
*/
int i = 1, sum = 0;
int left = i, right = n;
while (left < right) {
sum += left + right;
left++; right--;
}
/* Sum Correction for ODD numbers */
sum += (n % 2 == 1) ? ((int) n/2 + 1) : 0;
printf("\nMethod - 2:\nN = %d, SUM = %d\n", n, sum);
}

int main() {
int m = 10;
getSumN(m); /* Calling Method - 2 */
return 0;
}
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Function with Two arguments
✧ Problem: Compute the sum of 2 numbers
✧ This function computes and prints the sum of 2 numbers

#include <stdio.h>

void add( int m, int n ) {

int sum = 0;
sum = m + n;
printf(“\nSum = %d\n”, sum);
}

int main() {
int m = 21, n = 14;
add(m, n);
return 0; Function with no return
} Value

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Function with no return value
✧ Function that prints if a number is divisible by 7 or not?

#include <stdio.h> return type is void

void div7( int n ) {
if ( (n % 7) == 0 )
printf(“\n%d is divisible by 7\n”, n);
else
printf(“\n%d is NOT divisible by 7\n”, n);

return;
} Optional (not
needed!!)
int main( ) {
int n = 28;
div7(n);
Function with no return
return 0;
} Value

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Function with return value
✧ Problem: Compute the GCD of two numbers
✧ This function returns GCD of two given numbers to the main()
#include <stdio.h>
Int getGCD( int m, int n ) { /* Computing GCD of m and n where m > n */
int temp;
while ( ( m % n) != 0 ) {
temp= m % n;
m = n;
n = temp;
}
return n;
}
int main() {
int m = 21, n = 14, k; Function getGCD() returns
print(“\n m = %d, n = %d”, ); the GCD of m and n and
k = getGCD(m, n); stores GCD in the variable
print(“\nGCD = %d”, k); k
return 0;
}

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Function with 1-D array
✧ Problem: Check a given number is present in the array or not?
✧ This function returns 1 if the number is present; 0, otherwise
#include <stdio.h>
void printValues( int a[], int n) {
for ( int i = 0; i < n; i++) printf(" %d ", a[i]);
printf("\n");
}
int Search( int a[], int n, int k) {
for ( int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
if ( k == a[i] ) return 1;
}
return 0;
}
int main() {
int n = 5; // Size of the array
int a[5] = {12, 6, 2, 11, 5}; // An array of 5 elements
int k = 5; // The element to be searched in the array
printValues(a, n);
int ret = Search(a, n, k);
if (ret == 1) printf("\n%d is present in the array\n", k);
else printf("\n%d is NOT present in the array\n", k);
return 0;
}
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Passing Values between Functions
Problem: Check and print an occurrence of a given number in an array
#include <stdio.h>
void printValue ( int val) {
printf(” %d ”, val);
}
int Search( int a[], int n, int k) {
for ( int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
if ( k == a[i] ) {
printValue(a[i]);
return 1;
}
}
return 0;
}
int main() {
int n = 5, k = 5;
int ret = Search(a, n, k);
if (ret == 1) printf("\n%d is present in the array\n", k);
else printf("\n%d is NOT present in the array\n", k);
return 0;
}

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Passing Values between Functions
Problem: Check and print all occurrences of a given number in an array
#include <stdio.h>
void printMessage(char ch[] ) {
printf("%s\n", ch);
}
void printValue( int val ) {
printf(" %d ", val);
}
void Search( int a[], int n, int k) {
printMessage("Printing all occurrences");
for ( int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
if ( k == a[i] )
printValue(a[i]);
}
printf("\n");
}
int main() {
int n = 10, k = 5;
int a[10] = {2, 13, 71, 28, 5, 5, 4, 8, 5, 1};
Search(a, n, k);
return 0;
}
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Macros
Macros Use function if the sequence of steps is long
✧ If small, use macros or inline function, to eliminate the
need for retyping and time overhead.
✧ Need #define compiler directive
✧ Find the area of a triangle (given: base and height)
#define area(base, height) (o.5 * base * height)

Identifier Arguments Definition of Macros

✧ Define it once and use it anywhere in the program
printf("\nArea = %f\n", area(4.0, 6.0));

✧ NOTE: Remember to pass only values as arguments. If you

wish to pass expressions as arguments, use ( ) suitably

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26
Scope of a variable

• Part of the program from which the value of the variable can
be used (seen)
• Scope of a variable - Within the block in which the variable
is defined
• Block = group of statements enclosed within { }
• Local variable – scope is usually the function in which it is
defined
• So two local variables of two functions can have the same
name, but they are different variables
• Global variables – declared outside all functions (even main)
• scope is entire program by default, but can be hidden in a
block if local variable of same name defined
27
#include <stdio.h>
int A = 1;
Variable
void main() Scope
Global variable
{
myProc();
printf ( "A = %d\n", A);
}
Hides the global A

void myProc()
{ int A = 2; Output:
if ( A==2 )
{ A=3
A = 3;
printf ( "A = %d\n", A);
} A=1
}
 Compute GCD of two numbers
28

12 ) 45 ( 3
int main() {
int A, B, temp; 36
scanf (“%d %d”, &A, &B); 9 ) 12 ( 1
if (A > B) { 9
temp = A; A = B; B = temp; 3 ) 9 ( 3
}
9
while ((B % A) != 0) {
0
temp = B % A;
B = A;
A = temp; Initial: A=12, B=45
Iteration 1: temp=9, B=12,A=9
}
Iteration 2: temp=3, B=9, A=3
printf (“The GCD is %d”, A); B % A = 0 ➔ GCD is 3
}
gcd.c
29

Compute GCD of two numbers

(with function)

int x, y, z;
scanf(“%d%d”, &x, &y);
z = gcd(x,y);
printf(“GCD of %d and %d is %d\n”, x, y, z);
30

Return-value type Formal parameters

int gcd (int A, int B)

{
int temp;
while ((B % A) != 0) {
temp = B % A;
B = A;
A = temp;
}
return (A);
BODY
}

Value returned
Exercises
✧ Write a function to compute GCD of 4 numbers (use
the function that finds the GCD of two numbers)
✧ Write a function to check whether the number is an
Armstrong number of not?
✧ Write a function to check whether the given string (that
includes spaces as well) is a palindrome or not?
✧ A number is perfect if is equal to the sum of its positive
divisors excluding the number itself. Now Generate n (=
10) numbers randomly and store them in an array. Write
functions to find the sum of all perfect numbers present
in the array
✧ Write a function to find the kth smallest element in a
subarray

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