Day 5.

Functions.
 What is a Function ?
• Function is a self contained block of statements
that perform a coherent task of some kind.

• Every C program can be a thought of the

collection of functions.

• main( ) is also a function.

 Types of Functions.
• Library functions.
These are the in-built functions of ‘C’ library.
These are already defined in header files.
e.g. printf( ); is a function which is used to print
at output. It is defined in ‘stdio.h’ file .
• User defined functions.
Programmer can create their own function in C
to perform specific task.
 User defined functions.
• e.g.
#include<stdio.h>
main( )
{
message( );
}
message( )
{
printf(“Hello”);
}
Declaration of many functions.
#include<stdio.h>
main( )
{
printf(“I am in main”);
poly( );
engg( );
agri( );
}
poly( )
{
printf(“I am in polytechnic”);
}
engg( )
{
printf(“I am in engineering”);
}
agri( )
{
printf(“I am in agri”);
}
 Some conclusions.
• Any C Program must contain at least one function.
• If program contains only one function it must be
main( ).
• There is no limit on the number of functions
present in a C program.
• Each function in a program is called in the
sequence specified by functions call in main( ).
• After each function has done its thing, control
returns to main( ). When main( ) run out of
function calls program ends.
 Summarization.
• C Program is a collection of one or more functions.
• A function gets called when its name is followed by a
semicolon.
e.g. main( )
{
fun( );
}
fun( )
{
statement1;
statement2;
statement3;
}
 Summarization Contd……….
• Any function can be called by any other function.
e.g. main( )
{
printf(“I am in main.”);
fun( );
}
fun( )
{
printf(“I am in fun.”);
main( );
}

This will run in infinity.

 Summarization Contd……….
• A function can be called by number of times.
e.g. main( )
{
printf(“I am in main.”);
fun( );
fun( );
fun( );
}
fun( )
{
printf(“I am in fun.”);
}
 Summarization Contd……….
• A function can call itself, it is called as a
‘recursion’.
e.g. main ( )
{
printf(“I am in main”);
main( );
}

• A function can be called from another function but

can not be defined in another function. It should
be defined outside of the main.
 Why use functions ?

• Writing functions avoids rewriting of the same

code again and again in the program.

• Using a function it becomes easier to write

program to keep track of what they are doing.
 Passing values to functions.
The values that we pass to the function called as
function arguments.
e.g. main( )
{
int i=10, j=12, k=20;
calsum(i,j,k);
}
calsum(int x, int y, int z)
{
printf(“Sum is : %d”,(x+y+z));
} i, j, k are actual arguments
x, y, z are formal arguments.
 Returning a value.
• The keyword ‘return’ to used to return value from function which
is present in the parenthesis of return.
• On executing return statement it immediately transfers control
back to the main program.
e.g. main( )
{
int a = 30, j = 14;
int k;
k = addin(a, j);
printf(“%d”, k);
}
int addin(int x, int y)
{
int z;
z = (x + y) +1;
return(z);
}
 return
• There is no restriction of return statements in a function.
• Whenever the control returns from the function some value is
definitely returned. It should be accepted in the calling program.
e.g. int sum;
sum = calsum(a,b,c);
here the value returned by calsum must be of type int.
• Some valid return statements.
return a; /*a is a variable name */
return (23);
return (15.32);
return (‘v’);
return;
• If you are not returning any value from a function they it should
be declared as void. (void is a keyword).
e.g. void display( )
display is not returning any value.
Function declaration and Prototype.
Any C function by default returns and integer value. More specifically,
whenever a call is made to a function, the compiler assumes that this
function would return value of type int.

Function prototype :
#include<stdio.h>
int addin(int, int);
Function
void main( )
prototype.
{
statements;
statements;
}
int addin(int a, int b)
{
statements;
}
 Created By,
• Mr. Tushar B Kute,
Lecturer in Information Technology,
K. K. Wagh Polytechnic, Nashik.
tbkute@gmail.com