User-Defined Functions &

Pre Defined Function

Objectives

• Learn about standard (predefined) functions

and discover how to use them in a program
• Learn about user-defined functions
• Examine value-returning functions, including
actual and formal parameters
• Explore how to construct and use a value-
returning, user-defined function in a program

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 2

Introduction
• Functions are like building blocks
• They allow complicated programs to be
divided into manageable pieces
• Some advantages of functions:
− A programmer can focus on just that part of
the program and construct it, debug it, and
perfect it
− Different people can work on different
functions simultaneously
− Can be re-used (even in different programs)
− Enhance program readability
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 3
Introduction (continued)

• Functions
− Called modules
− Like miniature programs
− Can be put together to form a larger program

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 4

Predefined Functions

• In algebra, a function is defined as a rule or

correspondence between values, called the
function’s arguments, and the unique value of
the function associated with the arguments
− If f(x) = 2x + 5, then f(1) = 7,
f(2) = 9, and f(3) = 11
• 1, 2, and 3 are arguments
• 7, 9, and 11 are the corresponding values

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 5

Predefined Functions (continued)

• Some of the predefined mathematical functions

are:
sqrt(x)
pow(x, y)
floor(x)
• Predefined functions are organized into
separate libraries
• I/O functions are in iostream header
• Math functions are in cmath header
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 6
Predefined Functions (continued)
• pow(x,y) calculates xy
− pow(2, 3) = 8.0
− Returns a value of type double
− x and y are the parameters (or arguments)
• The function has two parameters
• sqrt(x) calculates the nonnegative square
root of x, for x >= 0.0
− sqrt(2.25) is 1.5
− Type double

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 7

Predefined Functions (continued)

• The floor function floor(x) calculates

largest whole number not greater than x
− floor(48.79) is 48.0
− Type double
− Has only one parameter

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 8

Predefined Functions (continued)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 9

Predefined Functions (continued)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 10

Predefined Functions (continued)

• Example 6-1 sample run:

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 12

User-Defined Functions
• Value-returning functions: have a return type
− Return a value of a specific data type using
the return statement
• Void functions: do not have a return type
− Do not use a return statement to return a
value

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 13

Value-Returning Functions

• To use these functions you must:

− Include the appropriate header file in your
program using the include statement
− Know the following items:
• Name of the function
• Number of parameters, if any
• Data type of each parameter
• Data type of the value returned: called the type
of the function

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 14

Value-Returning Functions
(continued)
• Because the value returned by a value-
returning function is unique, we must:
− Save the value for further calculation
− Use the value in some calculation
− Print the value
• A value-returning function is used in an
assignment or in an output statement
• One more thing is associated with functions:
− The code required to accomplish the task

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 15

Value-Returning Functions
(continued)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 16

Value-Returning Functions
(continued)
• Heading: first four properties above
− Example: int abs(int number)
• Formal Parameter: variable declared in the
heading
− Example: number
• Actual Parameter: variable or expression
listed in a call to a function
− Example: x = pow(u, v)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 17

Syntax: Value-Returning Function

• Syntax:

• functionType is also called the data type

or return type

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 18

Function Call

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 19

Syntax: Actual Parameter List

• The syntax of the actual parameter list is:

• Formal parameter list can be empty:

• A call to a value-returning function with an

empty formal parameter list is:

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 20

return Statement

• Once a value-returning function computes the

value, the function returns this value via the
return statement
− It passes this value outside the function via the
return statement

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 21

Syntax: return Statement

• The return statement has the following

syntax:

• In C++, return is a reserved word

• When a return statement executes
− Function immediately terminates
− Control goes back to the caller
• When a return statement executes in the
function main, the program terminates
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 22
Function Prototype

• Function prototype: function heading without the body

of the function
• Syntax:

• It is not necessary to specify the variable name in the

parameter list
• The data type of each parameter must be specified

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 24

Function Prototype (continued)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 26

Flow of Execution

• Execution always begins at the first statement

in the function main
• Other functions are executed only when they
are called
• Function prototypes appear before any
function definition
− The compiler translates these first
• The compiler can then correctly translate a
function call
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 27
Flow of Execution (continued)

• A function call results in transfer of control to

the first statement in the body of the called
function
• After the last statement of a function is
executed, control is passed back to the point
immediately following the function call
• A value-returning function returns a value
− After executing the function the returned value
replaces the function call statement

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 28

Programming Example: Largest
Number
• The function larger is used to determine the
largest number from a set of numbers
• Program determines the largest number from
a set of 10 numbers
• Input: a set of 10 numbers
• Output: the largest of 10 numbers

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 29

Programming Example: Program
Analysis
• Suppose that the input data is:
15 20 7 8 28 21 43 12 35 3
• Read the first number of the data set
− Because this is the only number read to this
point, you may assume that it is the largest
number so far and call it max
• Read the second number and call it num
− Compare max and num, and store the larger
number into max

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 30

Programming Example: Program
Analysis (continued)
• Now max contains the larger of the first two
numbers
• Read the third number and compare it with max
and store the larger number into max
− max contains the largest of the first three
numbers
• Read the next number, compare it with max,
and store the larger into max
• Repeat this process for each remaining number
in the data set
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 31
Programming Example: Algorithm
Design
• Read the first number
− Because this is the only number that you have
read, it is the largest number so far
− Save it in a variable called max
• For each remaining number in the list
− Read the next number
− Store it in a variable called num
− Compare num and max

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 32

Programming Example: Algorithm
Design (continued)
• For each remaining number in the list
(continued)
− If max < num
• num is the new largest number
• update the value of max by copying num into max
− If max >= num, discard num; that is, do
nothing
• Because max now contains the largest
number, print it

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 33

Summary

• Functions (modules) are miniature programs

− Divide a program into manageable tasks
• C++ provides the standard functions
• Two types of user-defined functions: value-
returning functions and void functions
• Variables defined in a function heading are
called formal parameters
• Expressions, variables, or constant values in
a function call are called actual parameters
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 34
Summary (continued)

• In a function call, the number of actual

parameters and their types must match with the
formal parameters in the order given
• To call a function, use its name together with the
actual parameter list
• Function heading and the body of the function
are called the definition of the function
• If a function has no parameters, you need
empty parentheses in heading and call
• A value-returning function returns its value via
the return statement
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 35
Summary (continued)

• A prototype is the function heading without

the body of the function; prototypes end with
the semicolon
• Prototypes are placed before every function
definition, including main
• User-defined functions execute only when
they are called
• In a call statement, specify only the actual
parameters, not their data types
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fourth Edition 36