CS1101: Foundations of Programming

Functions

Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Patna

IIT Patna 1
 Function
• A function is a self-contained program segment that carries out some specific,
well-defined task.
• Example
• A function to add two numbers
• A function to find binary representation of a decimal number
• A function will carry out its intended task whenever it is called or invoked
• Can be called multiple times
• Every C program consists of one or more functions
• One of these functions must be called main
• Execution of the program always begins by carrying out the instructions in
main
• Functions call other functions as instructions
IIT Patna 2
 Function control flow
Execution
Code int main(){
void printStar(){ .....
printf("****\n"); printStar(); void printStar(){
} ..... printf("****\n");
printStar(); }
int main(){
}
.....
printStar(); void printStar(){
..... printf("****\n");
printStar(); }
}

IIT Patna 3
 Functions
• Calling function (caller) may pass information to the called function (callee) as
parameters/arguments
• For example, the numbers to add
• The callee may return a single value to the caller
• Some functions may not return anything
• If function X calls function Y
• X : calling / caller function
• Y : called / callee function

IIT Patna 4
 Why functions?
• Allows one to develop a program in a modular fashion
• Code becomes readable
• Easy to debug and maintain
• Write your own function and avoid writing the same code multiple times
• Use existing functions as building blocks for new programs
• Abstraction: hide internal details (library functions)

IIT Patna 5
 Example

int main(){
float cent,fahr; float cent2fahr(float data){
scanf("%f",&cent); float result;
fahr=cent2fahr(cent); result=data*9/5+32;
printf("%f",fahr); return result;
return 0; }
}

IIT Patna 6
 Another example
int factorial(int m){
int i, temp=1;
for(i=1; i<=m; i++)
temp = temp*i;
return(temp); Output:
} 1! = 1
2! = 2
int main(){ 3! = 6
int n; ...
for(n=1; n<=10; n++)
printf("%d! = %d\n",n,factorial(n));
return 0;
}
IIT Patna 7
 Defining a function
• A function definition has two parts
• The first line, called header
• The body of the function
return-type function-name( parameter-list ){
declarations and statements
}
• The first line contains the return-value-type, the function name, and optionally
a set of comma-separated arguments enclosed in parentheses
• Each argument has an associated type declaration
• The arguments are called formal arguments or formal parameters
• The body of the function is actually a block of statement that defines the action
to be taken by the function
IIT Patna 8
 Accessing/Calling a function
• A function can be accessed by specifying its name, followed by a list of argu-
ments enclosed in parentheses and separated by commas
• There can be no argument also, an empty parentheses need to be provided
• Function call can be part of expressions, assignments, etc.
• Arguments appearing on a function call are actual arguments
• Arguments appearing on definition function are formal arguments
• Arguments are matched based on the position
• Formal and actual arguments are expected to match. Mismatches are auto-
typecasted if possible

IIT Patna 9
 Example: Accessing/Calling a function
char LTU(char in){
char c;
c = (in >= 'a' && in <= 'z') ? ('A' + in -'a') : in ;
return c;
}

int main(){
char c, upper;
scanf("%c",&c);
upper = LTU(c);
printf("%c\n",upper);
return 0;
}
IIT Patna 10
 Function prototypes
• A function is usually defined before it is called
• main() is usually the last function
• Compiler can identify function definitions in a single pass
• One can write the function definition after main but needs to be declared be-
fore main
• Compiler will know the set of function call
• Function prototypes are used for this purpose
• Function prototypes are usually written before main
• Prototype must mention the return type and the types of the arguments.
• int max(int a, int b);
• int LUT(char);
• Parameter names are ignored by compiler
IIT Patna 11
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
int cmp(int, int); Function prototype

int main(){
int x, y, out;
scanf("%d%d",&x, &y);
out = cmp(x, y); Function call
printf("%d\n",out);
} Return type

int cmp(int a, int b){ Function definition

return (a > b) ? a : b; Return value

}
IIT Patna 12
 Return value
• A function can return a value
• Using return statement
• Like all values in C, a function return value has a type
• The return value can be assigned to a variable in the caller
float fahr, cent;
scanf("%f",&cent);
fahr=cent2fahr(cent);
printf("%f",fahr);
• A function may not return any value to caller. The return type of such function
is void

IIT Patna 13
 Function not returning any value
void div3(int n){
if((n%3)==0)
printf("%d is divisible by 3",n);
else
printf("%d is not divisible by 3",n);
return; /* optional return */
}

IIT Patna 14
 return statement
• In a value-returning function (result type is not void), return does two distinct
things
• Specify the value returned by the execution of the function
• Terminate that execution of the callee and transfer control back to the caller
• A function can only return one value
• The value can be any expression matching the return type
• But it might contain more than one return statement.
• In a void function
• return is optional at the end of the function body.
• return may also be used to terminate execution of the function explicitly.
• No return value should appear following return
IIT Patna 15
 Example: print grade
void printGrade(int n){
if((n >= 90){
printf("AA\n"); return;
}
if((n >= 80){
printf("AB\n"); return;
}
if((n >= 70){
printf("BB\n"); return;
}
printf("FAILED\n");
}
IIT Patna 16
 Execution flow
int main(){
int num, j=1;
long int fact(int n){
long int val;
int j=1;
scanf("%d",&num);
long int val=1;
while(j < num){
for(; j <= n; j++){
val = fact(j);
val *= j;
printf("%d! = %ld\n",j, val);
}
j++;
return val;
} }
return 0;
}

IIT Patna 17
 Execution flow
int main(){
long int fact(int n){
int num, j=1;
int j=1;
long int val;
long int val=1;
scanf("%d",&num);
printf("BEFORE\n");
while(j < num){
for(; j <= n; j++){
val = fact(j);
val *= j;
printf("%d! = %ld\n",j, val);
}
j++;
printf("AFTER\n");
}
return val;
return 0; }
}

IIT Patna 18
 Nested function
• A function cannot be defined inside another function
• All function definitions must be separate
• A function can call any other functions
• Nested function calls are allowed. For example, A calls B, B calls C, C calls D,
etc.
• A function can call itself directly or indirectly
• Function A calls A
• A calls B, B calls C, C calls A
• Known as recursive call or recursion

IIT Patna 19
 Nested call
int fact(int n){
#include <stdio.h> int j=1;
int npr(int, int); int val=1;
int fact(int); for(; j <= n; j++){
val *= j;
int main(){ }
int n, r, val; return val;
scanf("%d%d", &n, &r); }
val = npr(n, r);
printf("val = %d\n", val); int npr(int n, int r){
} return (fact(n)/fact(r));
}

IIT Patna 20
 Nested call (recursion)
int fact(int n){
#include <stdio.h>
if(n == 1){
int npr(int, int);
return 1;
int fact(int);
} else {
return (n*fact(n-1));
int main(){
}
int n, r, val;
}
scanf("%d%d", &n, &r);
val = npr(n, r);
int npr(int n, int r){
printf("val = %d\n", val);
} return (fact(n)/fact(r));
}

IIT Patna 21
 Local variables
• A function can have its own local variables
• The local variables can be accessed from the function body only in which it is
defined
• Such variables cease to exist once it returns from the function
• Each execution of the function will use different set of local variables
• Parameters are also local
• Example:
float perimeter(float radius){
float val, dia;
dia = 2 * radius;
val = (22.0)/7 * dia;
return val;
}
IIT Patna 22
 Scope of a variable
• Scope - part of the program in which a variable is accessible
• Scope of a variable is the block { } in which it is defined
• Local variable - scope is usually within the function
• Two different functions can have a variable with the same name, but they
are non-identical
• Global variables - declared outside the all functions including main
• Scope of such variable is entire program but it can be hidden in a block if a
local variable with same name is defined
• Try to avoid global variables

IIT Patna 23
 Example: Global scope
#include <stdio.h>
int x;

int main(){
x = 1;
myfunc();
printf("MAIN: x = %d\n", x);
return 0;
}

void myfunc(){
x = 2;
printf("MYFUNC: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 24
 Example: Global scope
#include <stdio.h>
int x;

Output:
int main(){
x = 1; MYFUNC: x = 2
MAIN: x = 2
myfunc();
printf("MAIN: x = %d\n", x);
return 0;
}

void myfunc(){
x = 2;
printf("MYFUNC: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 24
 Example: Global scope
#include <stdio.h>
int x;

Output:
int main(){
x = 1; MYFUNC: x = 2
MAIN: x = 2
myfunc();
printf("MAIN: x = %d\n", x);
return 0; Scope of x is the whole program.
}

void myfunc(){
x = 2;
printf("MYFUNC: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 24
 Example: Global & local scope
#include <stdio.h>
int x; /* global x */

int main(){
x = 1;
myfunc();
printf("MAIN: x = %d\n", x);
return 0;
}

void myfunc(){
int x = 2; /* local x */
printf("MYFUNC: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 25
 Example: Global & local scope
#include <stdio.h>
int x; /* global x */

Output:
int main(){
x = 1; MYFUNC: x = 2
MAIN: x = 1
myfunc();
printf("MAIN: x = %d\n", x);
return 0;
}

void myfunc(){
int x = 2; /* local x */
printf("MYFUNC: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 25
 Example: Global & local scope
#include <stdio.h>
int x; /* global x */

Output:
int main(){
x = 1; MYFUNC: x = 2
MAIN: x = 1
myfunc();
printf("MAIN: x = %d\n", x); There are two x variables - one
return 0; is global and the other is local to
} myfunc.

void myfunc(){
int x = 2; /* local x */
printf("MYFUNC: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 25
 Passing parameters to functions
• When an argument is passed, the value of the actual argument is copied into
the function
• The value of the formal argument can be altered within the function, but the
value of the actual argument within the calling routine will not change
• Known as passing by value
• Called function receive a copy of the actual arguments. Such copy will be
destroyed when the execution returns from the called function

IIT Patna 26
 Call by reference
• Passes the address of the original argument to a called function
• Execution of the function may affect the original argument in the calling func-
tion
• Not directly supported in C, but supported in C++
• In C, you can pass copies of address to get the desired effect

IIT Patna 27
 Example: Passing parameters to functions
#include <stdio.h>
void func(int a);

int main(){
int x = 2;
printf("M1: x = %d\n", x);
func(x);
printf("M2: x = %d\n", x);
return 0;
}

void func(int x){

printf("F1: x = %d\n", x);
x *= x;
printf("F2: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 28
 Example: Passing parameters to functions
#include <stdio.h>
void func(int a);
Output:
int main(){ M1: x=2
int x = 2; F1: x=2
printf("M1: x = %d\n", x); F2: x=4
func(x); M2: x=2
printf("M2: x = %d\n", x);
return 0;
}

void func(int x){

printf("F1: x = %d\n", x);
x *= x;
printf("F2: x = %d\n", x);
}
IIT Patna 28
 Example: Passing parameters to functions
#include <stdio.h>
void func(int, int);

int main(){
int x = 2, y = 3;
printf("M1: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
func(x, y);
printf("M2: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
return 0;
}

void func(int x, int y){

printf("F1: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
tmp=x; x=y; y=tmp;
printf("F2: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
}
IIT Patna 29
 Example: Passing parameters to functions
#include <stdio.h>
void func(int, int); Output:
int main(){ M1: x=2, y=3
int x = 2, y = 3; F1: x=2, y=3
printf("M1: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y); F2: x=3, y=2
func(x, y); M2: x=2, y=3
printf("M2: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
return 0;
}

void func(int x, int y){

printf("F1: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
tmp=x; x=y; y=tmp;
printf("F2: x=%d, y=%d\n", x, y);
}
IIT Patna 29
 Passing arrays to a function
• Sometime, we need to pass an array to a function
• The array name is used to pass the entire array (not exactly though)
• Function prototype and definition with an array: no need to specify size
void func(int []);
void func(int x[]){
…
}
• Function call with an array: only the name needs to be specified
int x[10];
func(x);

IIT Patna 30
 Example: Passing array to function
#include <stdio.h>
int sum(int a, int b[]){
int sum(int, int[]);
int j=0, s=0;
for(; j<a; j++){
int main(){
s = s + b[j];
int n, x[100], i, out;
}
scanf("%d",&n);
return s;
for(i=0; i<n; i++){ }
scanf("%d",&x[i]);
}
out = sum(n, x); When a function receives an array as
printf("Sum: %d",out); input, it does not know the size. The
programmer needs to keep track of
return 0; the size.
}

IIT Patna 31
 What happens when an array is passed?
• The values of the array are NOT passed to the function
• The array name, which is passed in function, considered as the address of the
first element of the array
• The formal argument is actually the pointer to the first element of the array
• When an element of the array is accessed, the address is calculated as
base-address + index × size-of-single-element
• Changes made in any element inside the function will be visible to calling func-
tion

IIT Patna 32
 Parameter passing
• In C parameters are passed using call-by-value
• Passing the starting address when array is sent as arguments simulates call-by-
reference
• If a function changes the elements of array which is passed as arguments, such
changes will be reflected to the original array
• If an element of array is passed, then such modification will not be visible in
the calling function

IIT Patna 33
 Example
int main(){
int x[]={1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
int y[]={1, 4, 9, 16, 25};
printf("M1: x[1]:%d y[1]:%d\n", x[1], y[1]);
update(x, y[1]);
printf("M2: x[1]:%d y[1]:%d\n", x[1], y[1]);
return 0;
}

void update(int a[], int b){

a[1] = 6;
b = 36;
}

IIT Patna 34
 Example
int main(){
int x[]={1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
int y[]={1, 4, 9, 16, 25};
printf("M1: x[1]:%d y[1]:%d\n", x[1], y[1]);
update(x, y[1]);
printf("M2: x[1]:%d y[1]:%d\n", x[1], y[1]);
return 0;
}

void update(int a[], int b){ Output:

a[1] = 6; M1: x[1]:2 y[1]:4
b = 36; M2: x[1]:6 y[1]:4
}

IIT Patna 34
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
void cube(int, int[]);
void cube(int size, int a[]){
int main(){ int j=0
int n, x[100], i, out; for(; j<size; j++){
scanf("%d",&n); a[j] = a[j] * a[j] * a[j];
for(i=0; i<n; i++){ }
scanf("%d",&x[i]); }
}
cube(n, x);
for(i=0; i<n; i++){
printf("%d ",x[i]);
}
return 0;
}
IIT Patna 35
 Header files
• Contains function declarations / prototype for library functions
• There are many headers files such as <stdlib.h>, <ctype.h>, etc.
• Such files need to be loaded with #include directive
• Function prototype are usually specified in header file and actual function def-
inition is available in library
• One can write custom header files, eg. myheader.h (say)
• It can be loaded by #include "myheader.h"

IIT Patna 36
 C preprocessor
• Statement starts with # are preprocessor directives and handled by the pre-
processor
• It can be a separate program or the compiler
• Preprocessing is done before the compilation
• The preprocessor usually substitute the text
• For example, #include ... is replaced by the contents of the specified file

IIT Patna 37
 #define: Macro
• Preprocessor directive. #define string1 string2
• It replaces string1 by string2 wherever it occurs

#define PI 3.14
int main(){
int main(){
float r, p;
float r, p;
p = 2 * 3.14 * r;
p = 2 * PI * r; }
}

IIT Patna 38
 #define: with arguments
• #define statements can be used with arguments also
#define sqr(x) x*x
r = sqr(3) + sqr(a) // r = 3*3 + a*a
r = sqr(a+b) // r = a+b*a+b
• One should be careful in using this
sqr(x) (x)*(x)
r = sqr(a+b); // r = (a+b)*(a+b)
r = c / sqr(a+b); // r = c / (a+b)*(a+b)
• Macros are not functions. They are literally substituted without evaluation

IIT Patna 39
 Practice problems
• Write a menu driven program to perform the following operations -
(a) read in a number and print the sum of digits,
(b) read in a number and check for primality
(c) read in n numbers in an array and determine mean, mode, median, standard deviation
(d) read in n numbers in an array, check another given number exists in the array or not
(e) read an integer convert it in binary
• Write a menu driven program for following
(a) read in set of roll numbers (int) of students and marks in 6 subjects for each students
(b) print the whole record
(c) print total marks for each student
(d) print the roll number who has the highest total
(e) print the roll number who scored maximum marks in subject j (1 ≤ j ≤ 6)
(f) find standard deviation of marks for each subject

IIT Patna 40