270 - 2 - C Functions - Pepper

C Functions
Pepper
Objectives
• Create functions
• Function prototypes
• Parameters
– Pass by value or reference
– Sending a reference
• Return values
• Math functions
Intro
• Why:
– Divide and conquer
– Reuse abstractions
• What:
– Used prepackaged functions
• printf, scanf, rand()
– Create our own
– Pass parameters
– Accept return values
Math
• #include <math.h>
• Use any math function
• If c1 = 13.0, d = 3.0 and f = 4.0, then the
statement
printf( "%.2f", sqrt( c1 + d * f ) );
©1992-2013 by Pearson Education, Inc. All
Rights Reserved.
©1992-2013 by Pearson Education, Inc. All
Rights Reserved.
•
Create
Choose a name
your function
– Function should perform a single well defined task
– If you can’t find a concise descriptive name, you may have too
many jobs for the function
• Define a contract
– Inputs
• Arguments – choose type
• None should be noted as void
• Will the function change the parameter’s value?
– Output
• Only one ; by convention, 0 means good
• Write prototype
– Looks like function header but has ;
– int square( int y );
– Tells compiler what is valid input and output
– Forces type conversion
• Write body
• Call the function
Sample Function
#include <stdio.h>
// Function to calculate factorial

int factorial(int n) {
if (n == 0 || n == 1) { return 1; }
else { return n * factorial(n - 1); }
}
int main() {
int number;
scanf("%d", &number);
int result = factorial(number);
printf("Factorial of %d is %d\n", number, result);
return 0;
}
return
• return :
• It tells the computer the value to return as
the result
• Void return:
– Ex: void printit ( int x );
– You can still return to leave, but without a value
Prototypes
• Looks like function header but has ;
• int square( int y );
• Forces type conversion
• Tells compiler what is valid input and output
• Placement
– Applies to all functions appearing within the top level
braces (or all if outside all braces)
– Can put into its own .h file and then include without
<>
• #include “myfunctions.h” (no semicolon)
• No Overloading
• Every function name can have only one contract
Where do the variables live?
• On Stack: (lives and dies with function)
– Local – created in the function – automatic – on stack
– Argument – same as local
• On Heap: (lives with program life)
– Use keyword static
• static int x = 1;
• When you return to the function it will retain old value
– Global
• declare outside a function block
Function Call Stack
• Pile like one of dishes
– Access from the top
– Call a function – push it on the stack
– Execute function
• Push on other functions from within function
• Variables created in the stack
– Finish executing a function – pop it off the stack
– supports the creation, maintenance and destruction of
each called function’s automatic variables (local
variables, parameters)
Credit to Deitel – C How to program 7 th ed ©1992-2013 by Pearson
Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Credit to Deitel – C How to program 7 th ed ©1992-2013 by Pearson
Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What Are Reference Parameters?
• Reference parameters do not copy the value of
the parameter.
• Instead, they give the function being called a
copy of the address at which the data is stored.
This way, the function works with the original
data.
• We call this passing by reference because we
are making references to the parameters.
Passing Reference Parameters
Any data
number 4.0 y intended for y
in the
function goes
to the
location of
number in the
main
program
When to Use Value and Reference
Parameters
• We use value parameters when:
– We are not going to change the parameters’ value
– We may change it but the main program should
not know about it
• When we are simply printing the value
– We use reference parameters when:
– We are going to change the parameter’s value and
the main program MUST know about it.
– We are reading in a new value
Recursion – Function calls itself
• Method for repetition
• Need a stopping condition
• Need to call with some way to reach the stop
eventually
• Pushes copies of itself onto the stack (memory
use)
Summary
• Create a function
– <return type> <function name> (<type> <var> …)
• Call a function (can call it recursively)
– <function name> (<var>…)
• Pass by reference
– Argument accepts address: *<var name>
– Caller sends address: &<var name>
• Variable life
– Local vs global

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C Functions

// Function to calculate factorial

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