Chapter 5:
Functions
5.1 Function Declaration and Definition
5.2 Argument Passing
5.3 Default Arguments
5.1
Function Declaration and Definition
Modular Programming
• Modular programming: breaking a program up
into smaller, manageable functions or modules
• Function: a collection of statements to perform a
task
• Motivation for modular programming:
– Improves maintainability of programs
– Simplifies the process of writing programs
Defining and Calling Functions
• Function definition: statements that make up a function
• Function call: statement causes a function to execute
Function Definition
• Definition includes:
– return type: data type of the value that function returns to the part
of the program that called it
– name: name of the function. Function names follow same rules
as variables
– parameter list: variables containing values passed to the function
– body: statements that perform the function’s task, enclosed in {}
…Function Definition
• Definition includes:
– return type: data type of the value that function
returns to the part of the program that called it
– name: name of the function. Function names follow
same rules as variables
– parameter list: variables containing values passed to
the function
– body: statements that perform the function’s task,
enclosed in {}
…Function Definition
Note: The line that reads int main()is the
function header.
Function Return Type
• If a function returns a value, the type of the value
must be indicated:
int main()
• If a function does not return a value, its return
type is void:
void printHeading()
{
cout << "Monthly Sales\n";
}
Calling a Function
• To call a function, use the function name
followed by () and ;
printHeading();
• When called, program executes the body of the
called function
• After the function terminates, execution resumes
in the calling function at point of call.
Functions Example
Flow of Control in above Example
…Calling Functions
• main can call any number of functions
• Functions can call other functions
• Compiler must know the following about a
function before it is called:
– name
– return type
– number of parameters
– data type of each parameter
Function Prototypes
• Ways to notify the compiler about a function
before a call to the function:
– Place function definition before calling function’s
definition
– Use a function prototype (function declaration) – like
the function definition without the body and place the
function definition after the function calls.
• Header: void printHeading()
• Prototype: void printHeading();
– Prototypes help you put function definitions after the
definition of the main function, putting main function at
the top increases code readability
Example
(Program Continues)
Example (Continued)
…Prototype Notes
• Place prototypes near top of program
• Program must include either prototype or full
function definition before any call to the
function – compiler error otherwise
• When using prototypes, can place function
definitions in any order in source file
5.2
Argument Passing
Sending Data into a Function
• Can pass values into a function at time of call:
c = pow(a, b);
• Values passed to function are arguments
• Variables in a function that hold the values
passed as arguments are parameters
A Function with a Parameter
Variable
void displayValue(int num)
{
cout << "The value is " << num << endl;
}
The integer variable num is a parameter.
It accepts any integer value passed to the function.
Example
(Program Continues)
The function call in line 11 passes the value 5
as an argument to the function.
Other Parameter Terminology
• A parameter can also be called a formal
parameter or a formal argument
• An argument can also be called an actual
parameter or an actual argument
Parameters, Prototypes, and
Function Headers
• For each function argument,
– the prototype must include the data type of
each parameter inside its parentheses
– the header must include a declaration for
each parameter in its ()
void evenOrOdd(int); //prototype
void evenOrOdd(int num) //header
evenOrOdd(val); //call
Passing Multiple Arguments
When calling a function and passing
multiple arguments:
– the number of arguments in the call must
match the prototype and definition
– the first argument will be used to initialize the
first parameter, the second argument to
initialize the second parameter, etc.
Example
(Program Continues)
Example (Continued)
The function call in line 18 passes value1,
value2, and value3 as a arguments to the
function.
Passing by Value and Passing by
Reference
Passing Data by Value
• Pass by value: when an argument is
passed to a function, its value is copied
into the parameter.
• Changes to the parameter in the function
do not affect the value of the argument
…Passing Information to Parameters
by Value
• Example: int val=5;
evenOrOdd(val);
val num
5 5
argument in parameter in
calling function evenOrOdd function
• evenOrOdd can change variable num, but
it will have no effect on variable val
Passing by Reference
(Using Reference Variables as Parameters)
• A mechanism that allows a function to
work with the original argument from the
function call, not a copy of the argument
• Allows the function to modify values
stored in the calling environment
• Provides a way for the function to ‘return’
more than one value
…Passing by Reference
• A reference variable is an alias for another
variable
• Defined with an ampersand (&)
void getDimensions(int&, int&);
• Changes to a reference variable are made
to the variable it refers to
• Use reference variables to implement
passing parameters by reference`
Example
The & here in the prototype indicates that the
parameter is a reference variable.
Here we are passing value by
reference.
(Program Continues)
Example (Continued)
The & also appears here in the function header.
…Reference Variable Notes
• Each reference parameter must contain &
• Space between type and & is unimportant
• Must use & in both prototype and header
• Argument passed to reference parameter must be a
variable – cannot be an expression or constant
• Use when appropriate – don’t use when argument
should not be changed by function, or if function needs
to return only 1 value
Function Call Notes
• Value of argument is copied into parameter when
the function is called
• A parameter’s scope is the function which uses it
• Function can have multiple parameters
• There must be a data type listed in the prototype
() and an argument declaration in the function
header () for each parameter
• Arguments will be promoted/demoted as
necessary to match parameters
Using Functions in Menu-Driven Programs
• Functions can be used
– to implement user choices from menu
– to implement general-purpose tasks:
• Higher-level functions can call general-
purpose functions, minimizing the total number
of functions and speeding program
development time
• See previous above Example in the book
The return Statement
• Used to end execution of a function
• Can be placed anywhere in a function
– Statements that follow the return statement
will not be executed
• Can be used to prevent abnormal
termination of program
• In a void function without a return
statement, the function ends at its last }
Example
(Program Continues)
Example (Continued)
Returning a Value From a Function
• A function can return a value back to the
statement that called the function.
• You've already seen the pow function,
which returns a value:
double x;
x = pow(2.0, 10.0);
…Returning a Value From a Function
• In a value-returning function, the return
statement can be used to return a value from
function to the point of call. Example:
int sum(int num1, int num2)
{
double result;
result = num1 + num2;
return result;
}
A Value-Returning Function
Return Type
int sum(int num1, int num2)
{
double result;
result = num1 + num2;
return result;
}
Value Being Returned
…A Value-Returning Function
int sum(int num1, int num2)
{
return num1 + num2;
}
Functions can return the values of
expressions, such as num1 + num2
Example
(Program Continues)
Example (Continued)
The statement in line 17 calls the sum function,
passing value1 and value2 as arguments.
The return value is assigned to the total variable.
…Returning a Value From a Function
• The prototype and the definition must
indicate the data type of return value
(not void)
• Calling function should use return value:
– assign it to a variable
– send it to cout
– use it in an expression
…Returning a Boolean Value
• Function can return true or false
• Declare return type in function prototype
and heading as bool
• Function body must contain return
statement(s) that return true or false
• Calling function can use return value in a
relational expression
Example
(Program Continues)
5.3
Default Arguments
Default Arguments
A Default argument is an argument that is
passed automatically to a parameter if the
argument is missing on the function call.
• Must be a constant declared in prototype:
void evenOrOdd(int = 0);
• Can be declared in header if no prototype
• Multi-parameter functions may have default
arguments for some or all of them:
int getSum(int, int=0, int=0);
6-54
Example
Default arguments specified in the prototype
(Program Continues)
Example (Continued)
…Default Arguments
• If not all parameters to a function have
default values, the defaultless ones are
declared first in the parameter list:
int getSum(int, int=0, int=0);// OK
int getSum(int, int=0, int); // NO
• When an argument is omitted from a
function call, all arguments after it must also
be omitted:
sum = getSum(num1, num2); // OK
sum = getSum(num1, , num3); // NO