Functions in C++

Last Updated : 06 Aug, 2024




A function is a set of statements that takes input, does some
specific computation, and produces output. The idea is to put
some commonly or repeatedly done tasks together to make
a function so that instead of writing the same code again and
again for different inputs, we can call this function.
In simple terms, a function is a block of code that runs only when
it is called.
Syntax:

Syntax of Function

Example:
C++
// C++ Program to demonstrate working of a function
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Following function that takes two parameters 'x' and 'y'

// as input and returns max of two input numbers
int max(int x, int y)
{
if (x > y)
return x;
else
return y;
}

// main function that doesn't receive any parameter and

// returns integer
int main()
{
int a = 10, b = 20;
 // Calling above function to find max of 'a' and 'b'
int m = max(a, b);

cout << "m is " << m;

return 0;
}

Output
m is 20
Time complexity: O(1)
Space complexity: O(1)
Why Do We Need Functions?
 Functions help us in reducing code redundancy. If
functionality is performed at multiple places in software,
then rather than writing the same code, again and again,
we create a function and call it everywhere. This also
helps in maintenance as we have to make changes in only
one place if we make changes to the functionality in
future.
 Functions make code modular. Consider a big file having
many lines of code. It becomes really simple to read and
use the code, if the code is divided into functions.
 Functions provide abstraction. For example, we can use
library functions without worrying about their internal
work.
Function Declaration
A function declaration tells the compiler about the number of
parameters, data types of parameters, and returns type of
function. Writing parameter names in the function declaration is
optional but it is necessary to put them in the definition. Below is
an example of function declarations. (parameter names are not
present in the below declarations)
 Function Declaration

Example:
C++
// C++ Program to show function that takes
// two integers as parameters and returns
// an integer
int max(int, int);

// A function that takes an int

// pointer and an int variable
// as parameters and returns
// a pointer of type int
int* swap(int*, int);

// A function that takes

// a char as parameter and
// returns a reference variable
char* call(char b);

// A function that takes a

// char and an int as parameters
// and returns an integer
int fun(char, int);

Types of Functions
 Types of Function in C++

User Defined Function

User-defined functions are user/customer-defined blocks of code
specially customized to reduce the complexity of big programs.
They are also commonly known as “tailor-made functions”
which are built only to satisfy the condition in which the user is
facing issues meanwhile reducing the complexity of the whole
program.
Library Function
Library functions are also called “built-in Functions“. These
functions are part of a compiler package that is already defined
and consists of a special function with special and different
meanings. Built-in Function gives us an edge as we can directly
use them without defining them whereas in the user-defined
function we have to declare and define a function before using
them.
For Example: sqrt(), setw(), strcat(), etc.
Parameter Passing to Functions
The parameters passed to the function are called actual
parameters. For example, in the program below, 5 and 10 are
actual parameters.
The parameters received by the function are called formal
parameters. For example, in the above program x and y are
formal parameters.
 Formal Parameter and Actual Parameter

There are two most popular ways to pass parameters:

1. Pass by Value: In this parameter passing method,
values of actual parameters are copied to the function’s
formal parameters. The actual and formal parameters are
stored in different memory locations so any changes
made in the functions are not reflected in the actual
parameters of the caller.

2. Pass by Reference: Both actual and formal parameters

refer to the same locations, so any changes made inside
the function are reflected in the actual parameters of the
caller.
Function Definition
Pass by value is used where the value of x is not modified using
the function fun().
C++
// C++ Program to demonstrate function definition
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void fun(int x)
{
// definition of
// function
x = 30;
}

int main()
{
int x = 20;
fun(x);
cout << "x = " << x;
return 0;
}

Output
x = 20
Time complexity: O(1)
Space complexity: O(1)
Functions Using Pointers
The function fun() expects a pointer ptr to an integer (or an
address of an integer). It modifies the value at the address ptr.
The dereference operator * is used to access the value at an
address. In the statement ‘*ptr = 30’, the value at address ptr is
changed to 30. The address operator & is used to get the address
of a variable of any data type. In the function call statement
‘fun(&x)’, the address of x is passed so that x can be modified
using its address.
C++
// C++ Program to demonstrate working of
// function using pointers
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void fun(int* ptr) { *ptr = 30; }

int main()
{
int x = 20;
fun(&x);
cout << "x = " << x;

return 0;
}

Output
x = 30
Time complexity: O(1)
Space complexity: O(1)
passing string as an argument:
In c++ we can pass string as as argument in various way
1. Pass by Value
2. Pass by Reference
 3. Pass by Pointer
1. Pass by Value
In this when you are passing a values as string it will make a copy
of a string values.
C++
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

void printString(std::string str) {

std::cout << str << std::endl;
}

int main() {
std::string myString = "Hello, GFG!";
printString(myString);
return 0;
}

Output
Hello, GFG!
2. Pass by Reference
This can be done by using ‘&’ operator
C++
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

void printString(const std::string& str) { // Note the 'const' to

prevent modification
std::cout << str << std::endl;
}

int main() {
std::string myString = "welcome to gfg";
printString(myString);
return 0;
}

Output
welcome to gfg

3. Pass by Pointer
This can be done by using * operator
C++
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
void printString(const std::string* str) { // Note the 'const' to
prevent modification
std::cout << *str << std::endl;
}

int main() {
std::string myString = "This is Pss by pointer";
printString(&myString);
return 0;
}

Output
This is Pss by pointer

Returning string from a function:

This can be done by using the function “std::string”
C++
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

std::string getGreeting() {
return "This is C++";
}

int main() {
std::string greeting = getGreeting();
std::cout << greeting << std::endl;
return 0;
}

Output
This is C++

Returning a pointer from a function

we need to create a function that returns a pointer to an array of
integers.
C++
#include <iostream>

int* createArray(int size) {

int* arr = new int[size]; // Dynamically allocate memory for an
array
for (int i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
arr[i] = i * 10; // Initialize array elements
}
 return arr; // Return the pointer to the array
}

int main() {
int size = 10;
int* myArray = createArray(size); // Function returns a pointer to
the array

// Print the array

for (int i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
std::cout << myArray[i] << " ";
}
std::cout << std::endl;

delete[] myArray; // Don't forget to free the allocated memory

return 0;
}

Output
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Callback function (function passed as an

argument in other function)
A callback function is a function that is passed as an argument to
another function
C++
#include <iostream>

// Define a callback function type

typedef void (*CallbackFunction)();

// Function that takes a callback function as an argument

void performAction(CallbackFunction callback) {
std::cout << "Performing some action...\n";
// Call the callback function
callback();
}

// Example callback function

void myCallback() {
std::cout << "Callback function \n";
}

int main() {
// Pass the callback function to performAction
performAction(myCallback);
return 0;
}
Output
Performing some action...
Callback function

An array of function pointer and how the

elements are accessed
Here, we have c++ example, for accessing elements from array
C++
#include <iostream>

// Function declarations
int add(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

int subtract(int a, int b) {

return a - b;
}

int multiply(int a, int b) {

return a * b;
}

int main() {
// Declare and initialize an array of function pointers
int (*funcArray[3])(int, int) = { add, subtract, multiply };

// Variables to use as function parameters

int x = 2, y = 3;

// Access and call the functions using the array of function

pointers
std::cout << "Add: " << funcArray[0](x, y) << std::endl; //
Calls add(10, 5)
std::cout << "Subtract: " << funcArray[1](x, y) << std::endl; //
Calls subtract(10, 5)
std::cout << "Multiply: " << funcArray[2](x, y) << std::endl; //
Calls multiply(10, 5)

return 0;
}

Output
Add: 5
Subtract: -1
Multiply: 6
Difference between call by value and call by
reference in C++
Call by value Call by reference

A copy of the value is passed to the An address of value is passed to the

function function

Changes made inside the function are

Changes made inside the function are not
reflected
reflected on other functions
outside the function as well

Actual and formal arguments will be Actual and formal arguments will be
created at created at
different memory location same memory location.

Points to Remember About Functions in C+

+
1. Most C++ program has a function called main() that is called
by the operating system when a user runs the program.
2. Every function has a return type. If a function doesn’t return
any value, then void is used as a return type. Moreover, if the
return type of the function is void, we still can use the return
statement in the body of the function definition by not specifying
any constant, variable, etc. with it, by only mentioning the
‘return;’ statement which would symbolize the termination of the
function as shown below:
C++
void function name(int a)
{
....... // Function Body
return; // Function execution would get terminated
}

3. To declare a function that can only be called without any

parameter, we should use “void fun(void)“. As a side note, in
C++, an empty list means a function can only be called without
any parameter. In C++, both void fun() and void fun(void) are
same.

Main Function
The main function is a special function. Every C++ program must
contain a function named main. It serves as the entry point for
the program. The computer will start running the code from the
beginning of the main function.
Types of Main Functions
1. Without parameters:
CPP
// Without Parameters
int main() { ... return 0; }

2. With parameters:
CPP
// With Parameters
int main(int argc, char* const argv[]) { ... return 0; }

The reason for having the parameter option for the main function
is to allow input from the command line. When you use the main
function with parameters, it saves every group of characters
(separated by a space) after the program name as elements in an
array named argv.
Since the main function has the return type of int, the
programmer must always have a return statement in the code.
The number that is returned is used to inform the calling program
what the result of the program’s execution was. Returning 0
signals that there were no problems.
C++ Recursion
When function is called within the same function, it is known as
recursion in C++. The function which calls the same function, is
known as recursive function.
A function that calls itself, and doesn’t perform any task after
function call, is known as tail recursion. In tail recursion, we
generally call the same function with return statement.
Syntax:
We have Direct recursion and in direct recursion
1. Direct Recursion:
it can be done when the function calls itself
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void directRecursion(int n) {
if (n > 0) {
cout << n << " ";
directRecursion(n - 1); // Function calls itself
}
}

int main() {
 directRecursion(10);
return 0;
}

Output
5 4 3 2 1
2. Indirect Recursion
In this One function calls another function .
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void indirectRecursionB(int n); // Forward declaration

void indirectRecursionA(int n) {
if (n > 0) {
cout << n << " ";
indirectRecursionB(n - 1); // Function A calls Function B
}
}

void indirectRecursionB(int n) {
if (n > 1) {
cout << n << " ";
indirectRecursionA(n / 2); // Function B calls Function A
}
}

int main() {
indirectRecursionA(10);
return 0;
}

Output
10 9 4 3 1

Tail Recursion and Non-Tail Recursion:

1. Tail Recursion:
Tail recursion occurs when a function makes a recursive call as its
last operation,
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void tailRecursion(int n) {
if (n > 0) {
cout << n << " ";
tailRecursion(n - 1); // Recursive call is the last operation
 }
}

int main() {
tailRecursion(15);
return 0;
}

Output
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2. Non-Tail Recursion
Non-tail recursion occurs when a function performs some
operations after the recursive call.
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int nonTailRecursion(int n) {
if (n > 0) {
return n + nonTailRecursion(n - 1); // Recursive call is not
the last operation
} else {
return 0;
}
}

int main() {
int result = nonTailRecursion(20);
cout << "Result: " << result << endl;
return 0;
}

Output
Result: 210
To know more see this article.

C++ Passing Array to Function

In C++, to reuse the array logic, we can create a function. To
pass an array to a function in C++, we need to provide only the
array name.
function_name(array_name[]); //passing array to function

Example: Print the minimum number in the given array.

C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void printMin(int arr[5]);
int main()
{
int ar[5] = { 30, 10, 20, 40, 50 };
printMin(ar); // passing array to function
}
void printMin(int arr[5])
{
int min = arr[0];
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
if (min > arr[i]) {
min = arr[i];
}
}
cout << "Minimum element is: " << min << "\n";
}

// Code submitted by Susobhan Akhuli

Output
Minimum element is: 10
Time complexity: O(n) where n is the size of the array
Space complexity: O(n) where n is the size of the array.
C++ Overloading (Function)
If we create two or more members having the same name but
different in number or type of parameters, it is known as C++
overloading. In C++, we can overload:
 methods,
 constructors and
 indexed properties
Types of overloading in C++ are:
 Function overloading
 Operator overloading
C++ Function Overloading
Function Overloading is defined as the process of having two or
more functions with the same name, but different parameters. In
function overloading, the function is redefined by using either
different types or number of arguments. It is only through these
differences a compiler can differentiate between the functions.
The advantage of Function overloading is that it increases the
readability of the program because you don’t need to use
different names for the same action.
Example: changing number of arguments of add() method
C++
// program of function overloading when number of arguments
// vary
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Cal {
public:
static int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }
static int add(int a, int b, int c)
{
return a + b + c;
}
};
int main(void)
{
Cal C; // class object declaration.
cout << C.add(10, 20) << endl;
cout << C.add(12, 20, 23);
return 0;
}

// Code Submitted By Susobhan Akhuli

Output
30
55
Time complexity: O(1)
Space complexity: O(1)
Example: when the type of the arguments vary.
C++
// Program of function overloading with different types of
// arguments.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int mul(int, int);
float mul(float, int);

int mul(int a, int b) { return a * b; }

float mul(double x, int y) { return x * y; }
int main()
{
int r1 = mul(6, 7);
float r2 = mul(0.2, 3);
cout << "r1 is : " << r1 << endl;
cout << "r2 is : " << r2 << endl;
return 0;
}

// Code Submitted By Susobhan Akhuli

Output
r1 is : 42
r2 is : 0.6
Time Complexity: O(1)
Space Complexity: O(1)
Function Overloading and Ambiguity
When the compiler is unable to decide which function is to be
invoked among the overloaded function, this situation is known
as function overloading ambiguity.
When the compiler shows the ambiguity error, the compiler does
not run the program.
Causes of Ambiguity:
 Type Conversion.
 Function with default arguments.
 Function with pass-by-reference.
Type Conversion:-
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void fun(int);
void fun(float);
void fun(int i) { cout << "Value of i is : " << i << endl; }
void fun(float j)
{
cout << "Value of j is : " << j << endl;
}
int main()
{
fun(12);
fun(1.2);
return 0;
}

// Code Submitted By Susobhan Akhuli

The above example shows an error “call of overloaded

‘fun(double)’ is ambiguous“. The fun(10) will call the first function.
The fun(1.2) calls the second function according to our prediction.
But, this does not refer to any function as in C++, all the floating
point constants are treated as double not as a float. If we replace
float to double, the program works. Therefore, this is a type
conversion from float to double.
Function with Default Arguments:-
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void fun(int);
void fun(int, int);
void fun(int i) { cout << "Value of i is : " << i << endl; }
void fun(int a, int b = 9)
{
cout << "Value of a is : " << a << endl;
cout << "Value of b is : " << b << endl;
}
int main()
{
fun(12);

return 0;
}

// Code Submitted By Susobhan Akhuli

The above example shows an error “call of overloaded ‘fun(int)’ is

ambiguous“. The fun(int a, int b=9) can be called in two ways:
first is by calling the function with one argument, i.e., fun(12) and
another way is calling the function with two arguments, i.e.,
fun(4,5). The fun(int i) function is invoked with one argument.
Therefore, the compiler could not be able to select among fun(int
i) and fun(int a,int b=9).
Function with Pass By Reference:-
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void fun(int);
void fun(int&);
int main()
{
int a = 10;
fun(a); // error, which fun()?
return 0;
}
void fun(int x) { cout << "Value of x is : " << x << endl; }
void fun(int& b)
{
cout << "Value of b is : " << b << endl;
}

// Code Submitted By Susobhan Akhuli

The above example shows an error “call of overloaded ‘fun(int&)’

is ambiguous“. The first function takes one integer argument and
the second function takes a reference parameter as an argument.
In this case, the compiler does not know which function is needed
by the user as there is no syntactical difference between the
fun(int) and fun(int &).
Friend Function
A friend function is a special function in C++ which in
spite of not being a member function of a class has the
privilege to access private and protected data of a class.
 A friend function is a non-member function or an ordinary
function of a class, which is declared by using the
keyword “friend” inside the class. By declaring a function
as a friend, all the access permissions are given to the
function.
 The keyword “friend” is placed only in the function
declaration but not in the function definition.
 When the friend function is called neither the name of the
object nor the dot operator is used. However, it may
accept the object as an argument whose value it wants to
access.
 A friend function can be declared in any section of the
class i.e. public, private, or protected.
Declaration of friend function in C++
Syntax:
class <class_name> {
friend <return_type> <function_name>(argument/s);
};

Example_1: Find the largest of two numbers using Friend

Function
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Largest {
int a, b, m;

public:
void set_data();
friend void find_max(Largest);
};

void Largest::set_data()
{
cout << "Enter the first number : ";
cin >> a;
cout << "\nEnter the second number : ";
cin >> b;
}

void find_max(Largest t)
{
 if (t.a > t.b)
t.m = t.a;
else
t.m = t.b;

cout << "\nLargest number is " << t.m;

}

int main()
{
Largest l;
l.set_data();
find_max(l);
return 0;
}

Output
Enter the first number : 789
Enter the second number : 982
Largest number is 982