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View and Pure

In Solidity, view and pure are function state mutability modifiers that ensure functions do not alter the blockchain state. View functions allow read-only access to contract state variables, while pure functions perform computations without accessing or modifying the state. Proper use of these modifiers enhances contract clarity and optimizes gas usage.

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13 views3 pages

View and Pure

In Solidity, view and pure are function state mutability modifiers that ensure functions do not alter the blockchain state. View functions allow read-only access to contract state variables, while pure functions perform computations without accessing or modifying the state. Proper use of these modifiers enhances contract clarity and optimizes gas usage.

Uploaded by

cse211009
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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View and Pure

Table of Content

S. No Topic
1 Introduction to View and Pure
2 Role and Functionality of View and Pure Function
3 Syntax and Implementation of View and Pure
4 Code Explanation

View and Pure


View and Pure Functions:
Introduction to view and pure
In Solidity, view and pure are function state mutability modifiers that provide developers with
precise control over function behavior and indicate the nature of a function's impact on the
blockchain state. These modifiers don't alter the state of the contract and are crucial in ensuring
that functions execute predictably without modifying state variables.
Role and Functionality of view Functions
Functions marked as view promise not to modify the contract's state. These functions enable
read-only access to the contract's state variables, providing a way to retrieve information
without modifying anything on the blockchain. view functions are used for querying contract
states and are cost-free when executed externally.
Role and Functionality of pure Functions
On the other hand, pure functions signify that a function doesn't read from or modify the
contract's state. These functions solely depend on their inputs and don't interact with the
contract's storage or other contracts. They are used for performing computations or
transformations and are especially useful for mathematical calculations or data manipulations.
Syntax and Implementation of view and pure
In Solidity, view and pure are added as modifiers to function declarations. The syntax for
declaring these functions is straightforward, using the view or pure keyword after the function
visibility and before the returns.
Real-Life Examples:
An example of a view function could be a contract containing a balance-check function. This
function, marked as view, provides the balance of a specific address without altering any
contract state. Conversely, a pure function could include a mathematical calculation, such as
finding the factorial of a number, which doesn't require interaction with the contract's state.
In Solidity, view and pure are function modifiers used to specify the behavior of functions and
provide crucial information to the compiler regarding their interaction with contract state and
external data.

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View Function:
• Usage: Functions declared as view do not modify the state of the contract. They
promise read-only access to the contract's data.
• Purpose: Ideal for retrieving data from the contract without making any changes to the
state.
Syntax:
function functionName() view returns (datatype) {
// Function logic
}
pure Function:
• Usage: Functions declared as pure ensure that they neither read nor modify the
contract's state. They don’t even access external data.
• Purpose: Perfect for utility functions or mathematical calculations that do not require
contract state or external data.
Syntax:
function functionName() pure returns (datatype) {
// Function logic
}
Code Explanation:
// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;

contract ViewPureDemo {
uint256 public storedValue = 5;

// View Function: Retrieve stored value


function getValue() public view returns (uint256) {
return storedValue;
}

// Pure Function: Multiply two numbers


function multiply(uint256 a, uint256 b) public pure returns (uint256) {
return a * b;
}
}

getValue() Function (View):


• This function, marked as view, retrieves the value of storedValue without altering the
contract's state. It provides read-only access to storedValue.

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Multiply () Function (Pure):
• The multiply () function, declared as pure, performs a multiplication operation on two
numbers (a and b) without relying on or altering the contract state. It strictly deals with
pure computation.
In a bank, view functions act like a customer checking their account balance without making
any changes, while pure functions are like mathematical calculations performed without any
reference to the bank's account details.
These functions in Solidity demonstrate the use of view and pure modifiers, ensuring functions
are clearly marked based on their interaction with the contract's state or external data.

View:
• Reading Data: Functions marked as view do not modify the contract's state. They
only read data from the blockchain.
• Usage: Use view functions when you need to fetch data from the blockchain but don't
intend to modify any state variables.
Pure:
• No State Changes: Functions marked as pure don't read from or modify the
contract's state. They solely perform computations.
• Usage: Use pure functions for computations or transformations that do not involve
blockchain data access or state changes.
Usage in Smart Contracts:
• View: Use view functions for retrieving data from the blockchain without altering the
contract's state, like getting account balances or querying contract information.
• Pure: Use pure functions for calculations or transformations that don't require
blockchain interaction, such as mathematical operations or data formatting.
Real-Life Comparison:
Consider view as looking at a book without writing anything – you're reading the information
but not altering the book's content. Pure is like using a calculator to perform calculations – it
doesn't affect the information around you, only the computations you perform.
In Solidity, using view and pure appropriately helps clarify the function's purpose and
ensures no unintended changes to the contract's state, optimizing gas usage and contract
clarity.

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