Session 9

Fo
rA
pt
ec
h
C
en
tre
Session 9
U
Functions
se
O
nl
y
1
y
Objectives
nl
O
se
 Explain the use of functions
U
 Explain the structure of a function
tre
 Explain function declaration and function prototypes
 Explain the different types of variables
en
 Explain how to call functions
 Call by Value C
h
ec
 Call by Reference
pt
 Explain the scope rules for a function

rA
 Explain functions in multifile programs

Explain Storage classes
Fo

 Explain function pointers
Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 2 of 20
y
Functions
nl
O
se
 A function is a self-contained program segment that carries out a
U
specific, well-defined task
tre
 Functions are generally used as abbreviations for a series of
en
instructions that are to be executed more than once
C
 Functions are easy to write and understand
h
ec
 Debugging the program becomes easier as the structure of the

pt
program is more apparent, due to its modular form

rA
 Programs containing functions are also easier to maintain,

Fo
because modifications, if required, are confined to certain

functions within the program
y
The Function Structure
nl
O
se
 The general syntax of a function in C is :
U
tre
en
C
h
 The type_specifier specifies the data type of the value, which
ec
the function will return.

pt
 A valid function name is to be assigned to identify the

rA
function
Fo
 Arguments appearing in parentheses are also termed as

formal parameters.
y
Arguments of a function
nl
O
se
U
tre
en
Actual Arguments
C Formal Arguments
h
ec
pt
rA
 The program calculates the square of numbers from 1 to 10

Fo
 The data is passed from the main() to the squarer() function

 The function works on data using arguments Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 5 of 20
y
nl
Returning from the function
O
se
U
tre
en
C
h
ec
 It transfers the control from the function back to the calling program
pt
immediately.
rA
Fo
 Whatever is inside the parentheses following the return

statement is returned as a value to the calling program.
y
Data Type of a Function
nl
O
se
U
tre
en
 The C
type_specifier is not written prior to the
squarer(), because squarer() returns an integer type value
function
h
ec
 The type_specifier is not compulsory if an integer type of

pt
value is returned or if no value is returned

rA
 However, to avoid inconsistencies, a data type should be

Fo
specified

y
Invoking a Function
nl
O
se
 A semicolon is used at the end of the statement when a
U
function is called, but not after the function definition
tre
 Parentheses are compulsory after the function name,
en
irrespective of whether the function has arguments or not
C
 Only one value can be returned by a function
h
ec
 The program can have more than one function

pt
rA
 The function that calls another function is known as the calling

function/routine
Fo
 The function being called is known as the called function/routine

y
Function Declaration
nl
O
se
 Declaring a function becomes compulsory when the function is
U
being used before its definition
tre
en
 The address() function is called
before it is defined
C
h
ec
 Some C compilers return an error, if

pt
the function is not declared before

calling
rA
Fo
 This is sometimes referred to as Implicit declaration

y
Function Prototypes
nl
O
se
 Specifies the data types of the arguments
U
tre
char abc(int x, nt y);
en
Advantage :
C
h
Any illegal type conversions between the arguments used
ec
to call a function and the type definition of its parameters

pt
is reported
rA
char noparam (void);

Fo

y
Variables
nl
O
se
 Local Variables
U
 Declared inside a function
tre
 Created upon entry into a block and destroyed upon exit
from the block
en
 Formal Parameters C
Declared in the definition of function as parameters
h

ec
 Act like any local variable inside a function

pt
 Global Variables
rA
 Declared outside all functions

Fo
 Holds value throughout the execution of the program

y
Storage Classes-1
nl
O
se
 Every C variable has a characteristic called as a storage class
U
tre
 The storage class defines two characteristics of the variable:
en
C
• Lifetime – The lifetime of a variable is the length of time it
h
retains a particular value
ec
pt
• Visibility – The visibility of a variable defines the parts of a

rA
program that will be able to recognize the variable

Fo

y
Storage Classes-2
nl
O
se
U
 automatic
tre
en
 external
C
h
ec
 static
pt
rA
register
Fo

y
Function Scope rules
nl
O
se
 Scope Rules - Rules that govern whether one piece of
U
code knows about or has access to another piece of
tre
code or data
en
 The code within a function is private or local to that
function
C
h
 Two functions have different scopes
ec
Two Functions are at the same scope level

pt

rA
 One function cannot be defined within another

function
Fo

y
Calling The Functions
nl
O
se
U
 Call by value
tre
en
 Call by reference
C
h
ec
pt
rA
Fo

y
Calling By Value
nl
O
se
 In C, by default, all function arguments are passed by value
U
tre
 When arguments are passed to the called function, the values are
en
passed through temporary variables
C
 All manipulations are done on these temporary variables only
h
ec
pt
 The arguments are said to be passed by value when the value of the
rA
variable are passed to the called function and any alteration on this
value has no effect on the original value of the passed variable
Fo

y
Calling By Reference
nl
O
se
 In call by reference, the function is allowed access to the
U
actual memory location of the argument and therefore can
tre
change the value of the arguments of the calling routine
en
 Definition C
h
ec
getstr(char *ptr_str, int *ptr_int);

pt
 Call
rA
getstr(pstr, &var);
Fo

y
Nesting Function Calls
nl
O
se
main() palindrome()
U
{ {
tre
. .
en
. .
getstr();
palindrome(); C reverse();
h
ec
. cmp();
. .
pt
} .
rA
}
Fo

y
Functions in Multifile Programs
nl
O
se
 Functions can also be defined as static or external
U
tre
 Static functions are recognized only within the program
en
file and their scope does not extend outside the
program file
C
h
static fn _type fn_name (argument list);
ec
pt
 External function are recognized through all the files of

rA
the program
Fo
extern fn_type fn_name (argument list);

y
Function Pointers
nl
O
se
 Address is the entry point of the function
U
 Function has a physical location in memory that can be
assigned to a pointer
tre
#include <stdio.h>
en
#include <string.h>
void check(char *a, char *b, int (*cmp)());
main() C void check(char *a, char *b, int (*cmp)())
h
{
ec
{
char sl[80];
printf(“testing for equality \n”);
int (*p)();
pt
if (!(*cmp)(a,b))
p = strcmp;
rA
printf(“Equal”);
gets(s1);
else
gets(s2);
Fo
printf(“Not Equal”);
check(s1, s2, p);
}
}

Session 9

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Session 9

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Fo

 Explain the scope rules for a function

 Explain functions in multifile programs

 Debugging the program becomes easier as the structure of the

program is more apparent, due to its modular form

 Programs containing functions are also easier to maintain,

because modifications, if required, are confined to certain

the function will return.

 A valid function name is to be assigned to identify the

 Arguments appearing in parentheses are also termed as

 The program calculates the square of numbers from 1 to 10

 The data is passed from the main() to the squarer() function

 Whatever is inside the parentheses following the return

 The type_specifier is not compulsory if an integer type of

value is returned or if no value is returned

 However, to avoid inconsistencies, a data type should be

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 7 of 20

 The program can have more than one function

 The function that calls another function is known as the calling

 The function being called is known as the called function/routine

 Some C compilers return an error, if

the function is not declared before

 This is sometimes referred to as Implicit declaration

to call a function and the type definition of its parameters

char noparam (void);

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 10 of 20

 Act like any local variable inside a function

 Declared outside all functions

 Holds value throughout the execution of the program

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 11 of 20

• Visibility – The visibility of a variable defines the parts of a

program that will be able to recognize the variable

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 12 of 20

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 13 of 20

Two Functions are at the same scope level

 One function cannot be defined within another

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 14 of 20

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 15 of 20

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 16 of 20

getstr(char *ptr_str, int *ptr_int);

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 17 of 20

Elementary Programming with C/Session 9/ 18 of 20

 External function are recognized through all the files of

extern fn_type fn_name (argument list);

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getstr(char ptr_str, int ptr_int);