Functions

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 Objectives
• Explain the concept of structured programming and
its significance
• Define a function and describe the main parts of a
function
• Differentiate between function parameters and
arguments
• Describe function calls and the concept of
recursion
• Write programs that use functions

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Functions I

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 Structured Programming
• Structured programming is a programming
technique that involves breaking down of
individual program tasks into smaller tasks and
performing them by independent sections of
program code.

• By using functions in your C++ programs, you

are practicing Structured Programming.

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 Advantages of Structured Programming
• It’s easier to write a structured program, because
complex programming problems are broken down into
smaller, simpler tasks.

• It’s easier to debug (find errors) a structured program,

because the structured design makes it easy to isolate
the problem to a specific section of code.

• Time saving, because you can write a function to

perform a certain task once and reuse it more than
once or even in another program
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 Functions
A normal function
takes in an input
value, operates
on it and gives an
output:
f(x) = 2x + 10
Assume f(x) is a
function:

Source:
If input x = 2,
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Function_mac
hine2.svg/1035px-Function_machine2.svg.png output f(x) = 14

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 Functions in Programming
• A function is a named, independent section
of code that performs a specific task and
optionally returns a value to the calling
program.

• Parts (Components) of a function:

– Function header

– Function body

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 Function Header
• Function header contains the following:
returnType functionName(type param1…)
– Name: every function has a unique name. Rule for naming functions
are the same as those for naming variables.
– Parameter List: Parameter list provides argument type information.
This is a list of variables followed by commas
– Return Type: specifies the data type that the function returns to the
calling program. The function can return any of the C data types
(char, int etc). You can also define a function to return nothing using
return type “void”

void unlock (int key)

float calculateArea (int length, int width)

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 Function Body
• Function body is enclosed in braces.
float calculateArea (int length, int width) //function header
{
statement1;
…….. //function body
}

• Function body has statements, which when

executed perform the specific task assigned to
that function.

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 Class Exercise 1a
• Identify the errors in the following function
headers:

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 How to Use Functions in C++

• There are 3 steps to be followed when

working with functions:
1. Prototype a function (.h) – optional

2. Define a function (.cpp)

3. Execute a function (.cpp)

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 Defining Functions

• Function Prototype is a description of a function that will

appear later in the program. Contains the function header
only.
float area (int radius); //ends with semi-colon

• Function definition is the function itself, and it is

composed of a function header and a function body.
float area (int radius) //function header with NO semi-colon
{
statement1;
…….. //function body
}

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 Executing Functions

• A C++ program does not execute the statements in

a function until the function is called by another
part of the program.

• When a function is called, the program can pass

data values to the function in the form of one or
more arguments (variables).

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 Executing Functions (Cont.)
• The statements in the function then execute,
performing whatever task each was designed to
do. When the function’s statements have finished,
execution passes back to same location in the
program that called the function .

• Functions can send data back to the program in the

form of a return value.

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 Execution Flow
Function calling initiates
execution of function
definition

Function definition should be

done before calling

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 Exercise
1. Write a program that will use functions
to calculate the area of a rectangle

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 Class Exercise

Write the output of the

program below:

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 Exercise

1. Write a program that will use functions

to calculate the area and circumference
of a circle.

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Functions II

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 Parameters and Arguments
• A function is invoked (executed) when it is called by its
name in another function.

• Arguments are values passed to the function when it is

called. Parameters are (argument) type information
provided in the function header.

• The number and type of arguments passed to the

function must match the number and data type of the
parameters at the function header.

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 Parameters
and
Arguments

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Variable Scope: Global & Local
• Variables declared inside a function are
called local Variables. This means that they
can only be used/accessed inside that
particular function only.

• Variables declared outside all the functions

are called global variables. They can be
used/accessed by all the functions.
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 Global and
Local
Variables

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Recursion
• Recursion refers to a
situation in which a function
calls itself either directly or
indirectly.

• Indirect recursion occurs

when one function calls
another function that then
calls the first function.

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Exercise

Write the output

of the code
segment.

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Exercise

Write the output

of the following
code segment

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 Exercise
• Write a program that will declare a 0.7 as a global
constant. The program should have a function
getSal() to calculate and return the net salary of
person given the gross salary as the input. Use the
main() function to prompt the user to enter gross
salary and also to display the net salary.
[Hint: netSalary = 0.7*grossSalary]

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 References
• http://www.tutorialspoint.com/cprogram
ming/cprogramming_tutorial.pdf
• P. Aitken, B.L. Jones, Sams Teach Yourself
C, 5th Edition

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