CS-114

Fundamentals of Programming

Lecture 11
Functions – I

Course Instructor:
Qurrat-ul-ain Babar Institute of Geographical Information Systems
 Road Map for Today
• Functions
• Parameters & Arguments
 A Quick Recap

Various constructs to help us write useful programs

• Variables & Input/output statements
• Arithmetic & Assignment statements
• Sequential and conditional statements
• Iteration/looping constructs
• Arrays

All encapsulated within “main( )”

 Overview of This Lecture
• Break away from the monopoly of “main()”
Have other sub-units of a program that can
compute
Reduce the burden of programming each and
Hello
everything Dear Functions!!!
in “main()”

• A complex problem is often easier to solve by

dividing it into several smaller parts, each of which
can be solved by itself. (divide and conquer)
 Introduction to Functions
• Functions are the building blocks of C++
programs.

• A function is a named block of code that performs

some ACTION.
 Introduction to Functions
• The statements written in a function are executed
when it is called by its name.
• Each function has a UNIQUE NAME.

• One function can be called MULTIPLE TIMES in a

single program.
 Advantages of Functions
• Easier to Understand
• Easier to Modify
• Easier to Maintain
• Provide Program Reusability
• Separate the Concept (what is done) from the
Implementation (how it is done)
C++ Functions
 C++ Function – syntax

There are three main function components:

• Function Prototypes
• Function Definitions
• Function Call
 Function Prototypes
A function prototype is a declaration of
a function that specifies the function's name
and type signature but omits the function body.

Return-type Function-name(parameter-list);

Function Note the

signature semicolon here
 Function Definitions

A set of statements that explains what a function

does is called Function Definition.

Return-type Function-name(parameter-list)
{
statement(s);
Here we can have 0, 1 or
} many parameters
 Function Definitions

In an program, a function definition can be written

at:
• Before main() function
• After main() function
• In a separate file
 Function Prototype - Example

Return- Function
type -name Parameter-
list

int Sum(int a , int b);

 Function Definition - Example
Return-
Function Parameter-
type
-name list

int Sum(int a , int b)

{
int sum;
sum = a + b; Multiple parameters should be
return sum; separated by commas
}
 Function Call

• A statement that activates a function is known

as a Function Call.

• One function calls another by using function

signature.
 Function Call

The following steps take

place when a function is
called:
1. The control moves to the
function that is called.
2. All statements in function
body are executed.
3. Control returns back to
calling function.
 Function Call – Syntax

Function-name(parameter-list);
 C++ Functions
C++ allows the use of both internal and external
functions.

• Internal Functions – User defined

• External functions – Pre-defined (e.g., abs,

ceil, rand, sqrt, etc.) are usually grouped
into specialized libraries (e.g., iostream,
stdlib, math, etc.)
 Internal Functions

C++ programs usually have the following form:

// include statements
// function prototypes
// main() function – has the function call
// function definitions
 Internal Functions

C++ programs usually have the following form:

// include statements What if we skip the

prototype here?
// function prototypes
// main() function – has the function call
// function definitions
 Internal Functions

C++ programs usually have the following form:

Give the function
// include statements definition before the
function is called
// function definitions
// main() function – has the function call
External Functions
 C++ Function – Example (Cube)
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
Function
int Cube (int n); prototype

int main()
{
int yourNumber = 14; Function Function
int myNumber = 9; Call Call

cout << "My Number =" << myNumber ;

cout << " its cube is" << Cube (myNumber) << endl ;
cout << "Your Number = " << yourNumber ;
cout << " its cube is " << Cube (yourNumber) << endl ;
}

int Cube (int n)

Function
{
definition
return n * n * n ;
}
 C++ Function – Example (Cube)
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
Function
int Cube (int n); prototype

int Cube (int n)

{ Function
return n * n * n ; definition
}

int main()
{
int yourNumber = 14; Function Function
int myNumber = 9; Call Call

cout << "My Number =" << myNumber ;

cout << " its cube is" << Cube (myNumber) << endl ;
cout << "Your Number = " << yourNumber ;
cout << " its cube is " << Cube (yourNumber) << endl ;
}
 C++ Function – Example (Cube)
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int Cube (int n)

{
return n * n * n ; Function
} definition

int main()
{
int yourNumber = 14; Function Function
int myNumber = 9; Call Call

cout << "My Number =" << myNumber ;

cout << " its cube is" << Cube (myNumber) << endl ;
cout << "Your Number = " << yourNumber ;
cout << " its cube is " << Cube (yourNumber) << endl ;
}
 C++ Function – Example (AddNumbers)
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int addition (int a, int b) Function

{ definition
int r;
r = a + b;
return r;
}
Function
void main () Call
{
int z;
z = addition (5,3);
cout << "The result is " << z;

}
 Exercise

Write a program which calls a function which

prints ten asterisks (*) in line. (**********).

In this example main function just calls the

function named asterisks which just prints the
line of ten asterisks.
 Class Work – Solution
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void asterisks (int x)

{
for (int i=0; i<x; i++)
cout << "*";
}

int main ()
{
Int x;
Cin >> x;5

fetchusername(5);
}
 Recap – Example
#include <iostream>
using namespace std; No. of
parameters?
int absolute(int a)
{
int r; ?
r = abs(a);
return r;
}
Function
int main () Prototype?
{
int z; output?
z = absolute (-5);
cout << "The result is " << z;
}
 Recap – An Exercise
• Write a function called DisplayMessage() which
when called from main() displays the message
“It’s a beautiful day today!”

• Write a function called welcome() which takes

name of the user as parameter and when called
from main() displays the message
“Hello [nameOfUser]!”
Parameters & Arguments
 Classified by Location

Parameters Arguments

Always appear in Always appear in

the function definition, a function call.
or function prototype.
 Parameters & Arguments – Example
#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib> Parameter
using namespace std;

int absolute(int a)
{
int r;
r = abs(a);
return r;
}
Argument
void main ()
{
int z;
z = absolute (-5);
cout << "The result is " << z;

}
 Thank You

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who

cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.
--Unknown