C Fundamental

Functions

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Objectives
 Use of functions
 The structure of a function
 Function declaration and function prototypes
 The different types of variables
 Explain how to call functions
 Call by Value
 Call by Reference
 The scope rules for a function
 Functions in multi-file programs
 Storage classes
 Function pointers

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Functions
 A function is a self-contained program segment that carries out a
specific, well-defined task
 Functions are generally used as abbreviations for a series of
instructions that are to be executed more than once

 Functions are easy to write and understand

 Debugging the program becomes easier as the structure of the

program is more apparent, due to its modular form

 Programs containing functions are also easier to maintain,

because modifications, if required, are confined to certain
functions within the program

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The Function Structure
 The general syntax of a function in C is :

 The type_specifier specifies the data type of the value, which

the function will return.
 A valid function name is to be assigned to identify the
function
 Arguments appearing in parentheses are also termed as
formal parameters.

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Arguments of a function

Formal Arguments
Actual Arguments

 The program calculates the square of numbers from 1 to 10

 The function works on data using arguments
 The data is passed from the main() to the squarer() function
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Returning from the function

 It transfers the control from the function back to the calling program
immediately.

 Whatever is inside the parentheses following the return

statement is returned as a value to the calling program.

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Data Type of a Function

 The type_specifier is not written prior to the function

squarer(), because squarer() returns an integer type value

 The type_specifier is not compulsory if an integer type of

value is returned or if no value is returned

 However, to avoid inconsistencies, a data type should be

specified

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Invoking a Function

 A semicolon is used at the end of the statement when a

function is called, but not after the function definition

 Parentheses are compulsory after the function name,

irrespective of whether the function has arguments or not

 Only one value can be returned by a function

 The program can have more than one function

 The function that calls another function is known as the calling

function/routine
 The function being called is known as the called function/routine

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Function Declaration

 Declaring a function becomes compulsory when the function is

being used before its definition

 The address() function is called

before it is defined

 Some C compilers return an error, if

the function is not declared before
calling

 This is sometimes referred to as Implicit declaration

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Function Prototypes

 Specifies the data types of the arguments

char abc(int x, nt y);

Advantage :

Any illegal type conversions between the arguments used

to call a function and the type definition of its
parameters is reported

char noparam (void);

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Variables

 Local Variables
 Declared inside a function
 Created upon entry into a block and destroyed upon exit
from the block

 Formal Parameters
 Declared in the definition of function as parameters
 Act like any local variable inside a function

 Global Variables
 Declared outside all functions
 Holds value throughout the execution of the program

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Storage Classes (1)

 Every C variable has a characteristic called as a storage class

 The storage class defines two characteristics of the variable:

• Lifetime – The lifetime of a variable is the length of time

it retains a particular value

• Visibility – The visibility of a variable defines the parts of a

program that will be able to recognize the variable

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Storage Classes (2)

 automatic

 external

 static

 register

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Storage Classes (3)

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Function Scope rules
 Scope Rules - Rules that govern whether one piece of code knows about or has
access to another piece of code or data
 The code within a function is private or local to that function
 Two functions have different scopes
 Two Functions are at the same scope level
 One function cannot be defined within another function

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Calling The Functions

We have two types in C:

 Call by value
 Call by reference

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Calling By Value

 In C, by default, all function arguments are passed by value

 When arguments are passed to the called function, the values are
passed through temporary variables

 All manipulations are done on these temporary variables only

 The arguments are said to be passed by value when the value of the
variable are passed to the called function and any alteration on this
value has no effect on the original value of the passed variable

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Calling By Value - Example

/* Pass-by-Value example */
#include <stdio.h>
int swap (int a, int b);
int main ()
{
int x = 19, y = 5;
printf("Before swapping: x=%d, y = %d\n",x,y);
swap(x, y);
printf("After swapping: x=%d, y = %d",x,y);
return 0;
}
int swap (int a, int b)
Output
{
int temp;
temp = a;
a = b;
b = temp;
}

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Calling By Reference

 In call by reference, the function is allowed access to the

actual memory location of the argument and therefore
can change the value of the arguments of the calling
routine

 Definition
getstr(char *ptr_str, int *ptr_int);
 Call
getstr(pstr, &var);

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Calling By Reference - Example

/* Pass-by-Reference example */
#include <stdio.h>
int swap (int *a, int *b);
int main ()
{
int x = 19, y = 5;
printf("Before swapping: x=%d, y = %d\n",x,y);
swap(&x, &y);
printf("After swapping: x=%d, y = %d",x,y);
return 0;
} Output
int swap (int *a, int *b)
{
int temp;
temp = *a;
*a = *b;
*b = temp;
}

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Nesting Function Calls

main() palindrome()
{ {
. .
. .
getstr();
palindrome reverse();
(); cmp();
. .
. .
} }

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Functions in Multi-files Programs

 Functions can also be defined as static or external

 Static functions are recognized only within the program

file and their scope does not extend outside the
program file

static fn _type fn_name (argument list);

 External function are recognized through all the files of

the program

extern fn_type fn_name (argument list);

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Thank you
Q&A

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