Programming Language I

CEIT-22014

Topic 3: Functions and Pointers

Dr. Khin Khin Zaw

YTU CEIT 1
Functions
❑ What is a function?
- A function is a sub-unit of a program which performs a
specific task.
- A function can return at most one argument.

YTU CEIT 2
Why use Functions?
❑ Avoids rewriting the same code over and over
❑Easier to write programs and keep track of what they are
doing

YTU CEIT 3
Simple Function
(1) Function Declaration
(2) Calling a Function
(3) The Function Definition

YTU CEIT 4
Function Definitions
❑ Defining a Function

return_type function_name(parameter-list) int getsum(int x, int y)

{ {
body of the function return (x +y);
} }

Return type: A function may return a value.

A data type of the result (default int)
void - function returns nothing
Function Name: The actual name of the function
Parameters: The value is referred to as actual parameter or argument
Function body: The function body contains a collection of statements
that define what the function does

YTU CEIT 5
#include <stdio.h>
int italy();
int brazil();
int argentina();
❑ Call function
main()
{ - Any function can be
printf("\nI am in main");
italy(); called from other
printf("\nI am finally back in main");
functions
}
italy()
{
printf("\nI am in italy");
brazil();
printf("\nI am back in italy");
}
brazil()
{
printf("\nI am in brazil");
argentina(); Program Output
}
I am in main
argentina()
I am in italy
{
I am in brazil
printf("\nI am in argentina");
I am in argentina
}
I am back in italy
I am finally back in main

YTU CEIT 6
#include <stdio.h>

int message(); ❑ Call function

main() - A function can be called
{
message(); any number of times
message();

}
message()
{
printf("\nJewel Thief!");
}

Program Output

Jewel Thief!
Jewel Thief!

YTU CEIT 7
Passing Values between Functions
2 // Finding the sum of three integers */
3#include <stdio.h>
❑ Outline
4
5 ▪ Input values
6
7 main()
▪ Call function
8 { ▪ Function
9 int a, b, c, sum ;
10 printf( “\nEnter any three integers: " ); definition
11 scanf( "%d%d%d", &a, &b, &c );
12 sum = calsum(a,b,c); /* calling function to get value */
13
14 printf(“\nSum = %d”, sum);
15
16 }
17
18 /* Function definition */
19calsum( int x, int y, int z )
2020 {
21 int d;
22 d = x + y + z;
23 return(d);
24 ⚫ Program Output
25 }

Enter any three numbers: 10 20 30

YTU CEIT 8
Sum = 60
2 // Finding the maximum of two integers */
3#include <stdio.h>
4
❑Outline
Example
5 int maximum( int num1, int num2 ); /* function declaration */ 1. Function declaration
6 (2 parameters)
7 int main()
8 { 2. Input values
9 int a, b, res ;
10 2.1 Call function
11 printf( "Enter two integers: " );
12 scanf( "%d%d", &a, &b ); 3. Function definition
13 res = maximum(a,b); /* calling function to get max value */
14 printf( "Maximum is: %d\n", res );
15 return 0;
16 }
17
18 /* Function maximum definition */
19int maximum( int num1, int num2 )
20 {
21 int result;
22
23 if ( num1 > num2 )
24 result = num1;
25
26 else
27 result = num2;
28
29 return result;
30 }

Enter two integers: 22 85 ⚫ Program Output

Maximum is: 85 YTU CEIT 9
Passing Values between Functions
There are two approaches to passing arguments to a function
They are
(1) Call byValue
(2) Call by Reference

YTU CEIT 10
Call by Value
2 // Finding the maximum of two Outline
integers */
3#include <stdio.h> ⚫ Values of a and b
4
remain unchanged
5
6
even after exchanging
7 main() the values of x and y
8 {
9 int a = 10, b =20;
10 swapv(a, b);
11printf( “\na=%d b=%d”, a, b);
12
13 }
{
14 /* Function definition */
15swapv(int x, int y)
16 {
17 int t;
18 t = x;
19 x = y;
20 y = t;
21printf(“\nx=%d y=%d”, x, y);
22 }

x = 20 y = 10 ⚫ Program Output
a = 10 b = 20 YTU CEIT 11
Call by Reference
2 // Finding the maximum of two integers */ Outline
3#include <stdio.h>
4
5
⚫ To exchange the
6 values of a and b
7 main()
8 {
using their addresses
9 int a = 10, b =20; stored in x and y
10 swapr(&a, &b);
11printf( “\na=%d b=%d”, a, b);
12
13 }
14 /* Function definition */
15swapr(int *x, int *y)
16 {
{
17 int t;
18 t = *x;
19 *x = *y;
20 *y = t;
21 printf(“\nx=%d y=%d”, x, y);
22 }

a = 20 b = 10 ⚫ Program Output
YTU CEIT 12
Call by Reference
#include < stdlib.h>
#include < stdio.h> areaperi(int r, float *a, float *p)
{
main() *a = 3.14*r*r;
{ *p = 2 * 3.14 * r;
int radius; return(*a, *p);
float area, perimeter; }

printf("\ nEnter radius of a circle");

scanf("%d", &radius);

area, perimeter = areaperi(radius, &area, &perimeter);

printf("Area=%f", area);
printf("\ nPerimeter= %f", perimeter);
system("pause"); Enter radius of a
} circle 5
Area = 78.500000
Perimeter = 31.000000

YTU CEIT 13
Introduction to Pointers
• A pointer refers to a memory location that contains an
address.
• The C programming language provides a special
mechanism for passing variables to functions that is a
little unintuitive, but extremely powerful.
• C provides two operators, & and *, which allow you to
pass a variable instead of its value.

YTU CEIT 14
Introduction to Pointers
• A pointer must be declared and the variable type it
points to must be specified.
Example: int *ptr;
• Address Operator (&) : An address is assigned to a
pointer using the address operator.
Example: prt_v=&x;
• Indirection Operator (*): A value is assigned to a
variable it points to using the indirection operator.
Example: *ptr_v = 77;

YTU CEIT 15
Pointer Notation
⚫ Consider the declaration
int i = 3;
(a) Reserve space in memory to hold the integer value
(b) Associate the name i with this memory location
(c) Store the value 3 at this location

i Location name
3 Value at location

65524 Location number

YTU CEIT 16
Example
#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int i =3;
printf(“\ n Address of i= %u”, &i);
printf(“\ n Value of i = %d”, i);
}

Output
Address of i = 2293572
Value of i = 3 17
YTU CEIT
Con’t
• Example:
main() {
int x = 7 ;
int *px ; /* px is a pointer to an integer */
px = &x ; /* px gets the address of x */
printf( "%d\n" , x ) ; /* show the value of x */
printf( "%p\n" , &x ) ; /* show the address of x */
printf( "%d\n" , *px ) ; /* show the value of what px points to */
}

YTU CEIT 18
Limitations of Pointers
• If memory allocations are not free properly it can cause
memory leakages

• If not used properly can make the program difficult to

understand

YTU CEIT 19