Programming
Attique Ur Rehman
Introduction to
Functions
Introduction to Functions
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 sometimes made into
functions in C++.
main() then uses these functions to solve
the original problem.
Advantages of Functions
Functions separate 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 same program, allowing the code to be
reused.
C++ Functions
C++ allows the use of both internal (user-
defined) and external functions.
External functions (e.g., abs, ceil, rand,
sqrt, etc.) are usually grouped into
specialized libraries (e.g., iostream,
stdlib, math, etc.)
User-Defined Functions
C++ programs usually have the following form:
// include statements
// function prototypes
// main() function
// function definitions
Function Input and Output
Function Definition
A function definition has the following syntax:
<type> <function name>(<parameter list>){
<local declarations>
<sequence of statements>
}
For example: Definition of a function that computes the
absolute value of an integer:
int absolute(int x){
if (x >= 0) return x;
else return -x;
}
Function Call
A function call has the following syntax:
<function name>(<argument list>)
Example: int distance = absolute(-5);
The result of a function call is a value of type
<type>
Arguments/Parameters
one-to-one correspondence between the
arguments in a function call and the
parameters in the function definition.
int argument1;
double argument2;
// function call (in another function, such as main)
result = thefunctionname(argument1, argument2);
// function definition
int thefunctionname(int parameter1, double parameter2){
// Now the function can use the two parameters
// parameter1 = argument 1, parameter2 = argument2
Absolute Value
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int absolute (int);// function prototype for absolute()
int main(){
int num, answer;
cout << "Enter an integer (0 to stop): ";
cin >> num;
while (num!=0){
answer = absolute(num);
cout << "The absolute value of " << num
<< " is: " << answer << endl;
cin >> num; }
return 0; }
// Define a function to take absolute value of an integer
int absolute(int x){
if (x >= 0) return x;
else return -x; }
Function Prototype
The function prototype declares the input and
output parameters of the function.
The function prototype has the following syntax:
<type> <function name>(<type list>);
Example: A function that returns the absolute
value of an integer is: int absolute(int);
Function Definition
The function definition can be placed anywhere
in the program after the function prototypes.
If a function definition is placed before main(),
there is no need to include its function prototype.
If function definition is placed after main() there is
need to include it’s function prototype.
Absolute Value (alternative)
Note that it is possible to omit the function prototype if the function is placed
before it is called.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int absolute(int x){
if (x >= 0) return x;
else return -x; }
int main(){
int num, answer;
cout << "Enter an integer (0 to stop): ";
cin >> num;
while (num!=0){
answer = absolute(num);
cout << "The absolute value of " << num
<< " is: " << answer << endl;
cin >> num; }
return 0; }
Function of three parameters
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
double total_second(int, double ,double );
int main(){
cout << total_second(1,1.5, 2) << endl;
return 0;
}
double total_second( int hour, double minutes,
double second)
{
return hour*3600 + minutes * 60 + second;
}
Printing the Diamond Pattern as a
Function
void diamond(int size)
{
int row, space, star;
for(row=1; row<=size; row++){ //top half
for(space=1; space<=size-row; space++)
cout << " ";
for(star=1; star<=2*row-1; star++)
cout << "*";
cout << endl ;
}
for(row=size -1; row>=1; row--){ //bottom half
for(space=1; space<=size-row; space++)
cout << " ";
for(star=1; star<=2*row-1; star++)
cout << "*";
cout << endl ;
} }
Calculating the Area of a Circle
with a Function
