1. Functions allow programmers to break complex problems into smaller, discrete tasks, making code more modular and reusable. Functions perform specific tasks and can optionally return values or receive parameters. 2. There are two types of functions - predefined functions from standard libraries like stdio.h and math.h, and user-defined functions created for specialized tasks. Functions have a name, parameters, return type, and body. 3. Functions improve code organization and readability. They separate implementation from interface and allow code reuse. Parameters can be passed by value, where copies are used, or by reference, where the function can modify the original arguments.

1. Function

2. Introduction
A complex problem is often easier to solve by dividing it into
several smaller parts, each of which can be solved by itself.
This is called structured programming.
These parts are made into functions in C.These parts are made into functions in C.
main() then uses these functions to solve the original
problem.
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3. Definition
A function is a named, independent section of C code that
performs a specific task and optionally returns a value to the
calling program or/and receives values(s) from the calling
program.
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4. Categories of Function
Basically there are two categories of function:
1. Predefined functions: available in C / C++ standard library
such as stdio.h, math.h, string.h etc.
2. User-defined functions: functions that programmers create
for specialized tasks such as graphic and multimediafor specialized tasks such as graphic and multimedia
libraries, implementation extensions or dependent etc.
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5. Function Characteristics
Basically a function has the following characteristics:
1. Named with unique name .
2. Performs a specific task -Task is a discrete job that the program
must perform as part of its overall operation, such as sending a line
of text to the printer, sorting an array into numerical order, or
calculating a cube root, etc.calculating a cube root, etc.
3. Independent - A function can perform its task without
interference from or interfering with other parts of the program.
4. May receive values from the calling program (caller) -
Calling program can pass values to function for processing whether
directly or indirectly (by reference).
5. May return a value to the calling program – the called
function may pass something back to the calling program.
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6. Advantages of Function
Functions separates the concept (what is done)
from the implementation (how it is done).
Functions make programs easier to understand.
Functions can be called several times in the sameFunctions can be called several times in the same
program, allowing the code to be reused.
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7. Function Prototype
Function prototype consists of
Function name
Parameters – what the function takes in
Return type – data type function returns (default int)
Used to validate functionsUsed to validate functions
The function with the prototype
int maximum( int, int, int );
Takes in 3 ints
Returns an int
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8. Function Definition
Function definition format
return-value-type function-name( parameter-list )
{
declarations and statements
}
Function-name: any valid identifierFunction-name: any valid identifier
Return-value-type: data type of the result (default int)
void – indicates that the function returns nothing
Parameter-list: comma separated list, declares parameters
A type must be listed explicitly for each parameter unless, the parameter
is of type int
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9. Function Definition [contd..]
Declarations and statements: function body (block)
Variables can be declared inside blocks (can be nested)
Functions can not be defined inside other functions
Returning control
If nothing returnedIf nothing returned
return;
or, until reaches right brace
If something returned
return expression;
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10. Function Call
Invoking functions
Provide function name and arguments (data)
Function performs operations or manipulations
Function returns results
Format for calling functions
FunctionName( argument );
If multiple arguments, use comma-separated list
printf( "%.2f", sqrt( 900.0 ) );
Calls function sqrt, which returns the square root of its argument
All math functions return data type double
Arguments may be constants, variables, or expressions
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11. Example
#include <stdio.h>
int absolute(int); // function prototype for absolute()
int main(){
int num, answer;
printf("Enter an integer: “);
scaf(“%d”,&num);
answer = absolute(num); //function call
printf("The absolute value of is %d“, answer);
return 0; }
// Define a function to take absolute value of an integer
int absolute(int x) // function definition
{
if (x >= 0)
return x;
else
return -x;
}
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12. Purpose of return statement
The return statement serves two purposes:
On executing the return statement it immediately transfers
the control back to the calling program.
It returns the value present in the parentheses after return, to
the calling program.the calling program.
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13. Function without arguments
and without return value
#include<stdio.h>
void addnumbers(void);
void main()
{
printf(“ Program for adding two numbers using functions n”);
addnumbers();
printf(“n we are back in main function”);printf(“n we are back in main function”);
}
void addnumbers()
{
int a,b,sum;
printf(“enter the values of two numbers:”);
scanf(“%d%d”,&a,&b);
sum=a + b;
printf(“The sum of %d and %d is = %d”,a,b,sum);
}
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14. One function can also calls another function i.e., function
calls can be nested.
A function can also calls itself. These types of functions
are called recursion.
void main()
{ int fact(int a){
calculate();
}
void calculate()
{
add();
mul();
}
void add()
{
}
void mul()
{
}
int fact(int a)
{
f=a*fact(a-1);
}
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15. Library functions
Each standard library has a corresponding header file
Header files contain function prototypes and other
definitions
Can also create library of your own functions
There’s a list of available functions in many Libraries
stdio.h, math.h, string.h, conio.h etc…stdio.h, math.h, string.h, conio.h etc…
clrscr() in conio.h
Clears text mode window
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16. abs acos acosl asin asinl
atan atanl atan2 atan2l atof _atold
cabs cabsl ceil ceill cos cosl
cosh coshl exp expl fabs fabsl
floor floorl fmod fmodl frexp frexpl
Math.h
hypot hypotl labs ldexp ldexpl
log logl log10 log101 matherr _matherrl
modf modfl poly polyl pow powl
pow10 pow10l sin sinl sinh sinhl
sqrt sqrtl tan tanl tanh tanhl
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17. stdio.h
clearerr fclose fcloseall fdopen feof ferror
fflush fgetc fgetchar fgetpos fgets fileno
flushall fopen fprintf fputc fputchar fputs
fread freopen fscanf fseek fsetpos ftell
fwrite getc getchar gets getw perror
printf putc putchar puts putw removeprintf putc putchar puts putw remove
rename rewind rmtmp scanf setbuf setvbuf
sprintf sscanf strerror _strerror tempnam tmpfile
tmpnam ungetc unlink vfprintf vfscanf vprintf
vscanf vsprintf vsscanf
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18. Different ways of calling a function
with arguments
When calling a function, arguments can be passed to a
function in two ways
Call by value
Call by reference
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19. Call By ValueCall By ValueCall By ValueCall By Value
Here arguments are being passed by value
temporary copy of argument (constant, variable, expression)
is provided to function (by way of a stack)
function can change the copy, but not the original value in
calling function
Call by value results in greater independence betweenCall by value results in greater independence between
modules
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20. 20 Dept. of CSE&IT, DBCET, Guwahati

21. #include<stdio.h>
void callbyval(int,int);
void main()
{
int a,b;
a=b=10;
printf(“nThe values of a and b before calling the function is %d and %d”,a,b);
Example
callbyval(a,b);
printf(“nAtfer the function is executed the values of a is %d and b is %d”,a,b);
}
void callbyval(int a,int b)
{
a=a * a;
b=b * b;
printf(“nThe values of a and b inside the callbyval function is %d and %d”,a,b);
}
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22. Scope Rules
Scope of a variable is that part of a program in which the variable can be
referenced
visible only in the block in which they are declared
void display(int); 1. Variable accessible in main() is ivoid display(int);
void main()
{ int i=10;
display(i);
}
void display(int j)
{ int k=27;
printf(“n %d %d”,j,k);
}
1. Variable accessible in main() is i
2. Variables accessible in display is j and
k
3. Scope of i is within the main() and
scope of j and k is in the display()
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23. An Introduction to pointersAn Introduction to pointersAn Introduction to pointersAn Introduction to pointers
2
a
4885
Location name
Value at location
Location address
This declaration tell the C compiler to:
1. Reserve space in memory to hold an integer
value
2. Associate the name “a” with this memory
location
3. Store the value 2 at this location
int a=2;
A pointer is a variable that contains the address of a variable
Pointers are declared to "point" to a variable of a particular type
(int, double, etc.)
When we use a pointer to access the value stored in the variable
to which it points, we are using indirect addressing
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24. 2
a
4885
4885
b
3376
int a=2;
int *b;
Is a pointer to an
integer
int *b;
b=&a;
printf(“nAddress of a=%u”,&a);
printf(“nAddress of a=%u”,b);
printf(“nAddress of b=%u”,&b);
printf(“nValue of b=%u”,b);
printf(“nValue of a=%d”,a);
printf(“nValue of a=%d”,*(&a));
printf(“nValue of a=%d”,*b);
Address of a=4885
Address of a=4885
Address of b=3376
Value of b=4885
Value of a=2
Value of a=2
Value of a=2
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25. Call By ReferenceCall By ReferenceCall By ReferenceCall By Reference
passed by reference
temporary copy of the address of argument is provided to function
called function can change value of the local variable in the calling
function because it knows where in memory it isfunction because it knows where in memory it is
pass by reference simulated in C by using the address operator
(&), an array name, or a pointer variable
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26. void swap(int *x,int *y);
void main()
{
int a=10,b=20;
swap(&a,&b);
printf(“n a=%d b=%d”,a,b);
20
b
8682
10
a
4885
}
void swap(int *x,int *y)
{
int t;
t=*x;
*x=*y;
*y=t;
}
10
t
2416
4885
x
6612
8682
y
4216
10
b
8682
20
a
4885
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27. Recursion
In C, a function that calls itself repeatedly, is called a recursion.
Using recursion sometimes makes coding more straightforward;
consider the calculation of n!,
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28. Recursion Example
#include<stdio.h>
long int fact( unsigned int num);
void main();
{ long f;
unsigned int n;
printf(“Enter an integer number:”);
scanf(“%u”,&n);
f=fact(n);
printf(“The factorial of a number is %ld n”,f);printf(“The factorial of a number is %ld n”,f);
}
long int fact(unsigned int num)
{
if(num==0)
return(1);
else
return ( num * fact(num-1));
}
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29. f=fact(4);
1st call to fact
num=4;
return(4 * fact(3));
2nd call to fact
num =3;
return(3 * fact(2));
2
6
24
long int fact(unsigned int num)
{
if(num==0)
return(1);
else
return ( num * fact(num-1)); return(3 * fact(2));
3rd call to fact
num =2;
return(2 * fact(1));
4th call to fact
num =1;
return(1 * fact(0));
5th call to fact
num =0;
return(1)
1
1
return ( num * fact(num-1));
}
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