Chapter 6: Functions

Starting Out with C++

Early Objects
Seventh Edition

by Tony Gaddis, Judy Walters,

and Godfrey Muganda

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Topics

6.1 Modular Programming

6.2 Defining and Calling Functions
6.3 Function Prototypes
6.4 Sending Data into a Function
6.5 Passing Data by Value
6.6 The return Statement
6.7 Returning a Value from a Function
6.8 Returning a Boolean Value

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 Topics (continued)

6.9 Using Functions in a Menu-Driven Program

6.10 Local and Global Variables
6.11 Static Local Variables
6.12 Default Arguments
6.13 Using Reference Variables as Parameters
6.14 Overloading Functions
6.15 The exit() Function
6.16 Stubs and Drivers

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 6.1 Modular Programming
• Modular programming: breaking a program
up into smaller, manageable functions or
modules
• Function: a collection of statements to
perform a specific task
• Motivation for modular programming
– Simplifies the process of writing programs
– Improves maintainability of programs

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 6.2 Defining and Calling Functions

• Function call: statement that causes a

function to execute
• Function definition: statements that make
up a function

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 Function Definition

• Definition includes
name: name of the function. Function names
follow same rules as variable names
parameter list: variables that hold the values
passed to the function
body: statements that perform the function’s task
return type: data type of the value the function
returns to the part of the program that called it

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 Function Definition

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 Function Header

• The function header consists of

– the function return type
– the function name
– the function parameter list
• Example:
int main()
• Note: no ; at the end of the header

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 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 << "\tMonthly Sales\
n";
}
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 Calling a Function

• To call a function, use the function name

followed by () and ;
printHeading();
• When a function is called, the program
executes the body of the function
• After the function terminates, execution
resumes in the calling module at the
point of call
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 Calling a Function

• main is automatically called when the

program starts
• main can call any number of functions
• Functions can call other functions

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 6.3 Function Prototypes
The compiler must know the following
about a function before it is called
– name
– return type
– number of parameters
– data type of each parameter

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 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 (similar to the
heading of the function
• Heading: void printHeading()
• Prototype: void printHeading();

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 Prototype Notes

• Place prototypes near top of program

• Program must include either prototype or
full function definition before any call to the
function, otherwise a compiler error occurs
• When using prototypes, function definitions
can be placed in any order in the source
file. Traditionally, main is placed first.

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 6.4 Sending Data into a Function

• Can pass values into a function at time of call

c = sqrt(a*a + b*b);
• Values passed to function are arguments
• Variables in function that hold values passed
as arguments are parameters
• Alternate names:
– argument: actual argument, actual parameter
– parameter: formal argument, formal parameter

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 Parameters, Prototypes,
and Function Headings

• For each function argument,

– the prototype must include the data type of each
parameter in its ()
void evenOrOdd(int); //prototype
– the heading must include a declaration, with variable
type and name, for each parameter in its ()
void evenOrOdd(int num) //heading
• The function call for the above function would
look like this: evenOrOdd(val); //call
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 Function Call Notes

• Value of argument is copied into parameter

when the function is called
• Function can have > 1 parameter
• There must be a data type listed in the
prototype () and an argument declaration in
the function heading () for each parameter
• Arguments will be promoted/demoted as
necessary to match parameters
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Calling Functions with Multiple Arguments

When calling a function with multiple

arguments
– the number of arguments in the call must
match the function prototype and definition
– the first argument will be copied into the
first parameter, the second argument into
the second parameter, etc.

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 Calling Functions with
Multiple Arguments Illustration

displayData(height, weight); // call

void displayData(int h, int w)// heading

{
cout << "Height = " << h << endl;
cout << "Weight = " << w << endl;
}

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 6.5 Passing Data by Value

• Pass by value: when argument is passed

to a function, a copy of its value is placed
in the parameter
• Function cannot access the original
argument
• Changes to the parameter in the function
do not affect the value of the argument in
the calling function
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 Passing Data 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
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 6.6 The return Statement

• Used to end execution of a function

• Can be placed anywhere in a function
– Any statements that follow the return
statement will not be executed
• Can be used to prevent abnormal
termination of program
• Without a return statement, the
function ends at its last }
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 6.7 Returning a Value From a Function
• return statement can be used to return a
value from the function to the module that
made the function call
• Prototype and definition must indicate data
type of return value (not void)
• Calling function should use return value, e.g.,
– assign it to a variable
– send it to cout
– use it in an arithmetic computation
– use it in a relational expression
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 Returning a Value – the return
Statement
• Format: return expression;
• expression may be a variable, a literal
value, or an expression.
• expression should be of the same data
type as the declared return type of the
function (will be converted if not)

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 6.8 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

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 Boolean return Example

bool isValid(int); // prototype

bool isValid(int val) // heading
{
int min = 0, max = 100;
if (val >= min && val <= max)
return true;
else
return false;
}
if (isValid(score)) // call
…
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 6.9 Using Functions in a Menu-Driven
Program

Functions can be used

• to implement user choices from menu
• to implement general-purpose tasks
- Higher-level functions can call general-purpose
functions
- This minimizes the total number of functions
and speeds program development time

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 6.10 Local and Global Variables
• local variable: defined within a function or
block; accessible only within the function or
block
• Other functions and blocks can define
variables with the same name
• When a function is called, local variables in
the calling function are not accessible from
within the called function
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 Local and Global Variables
• global variable: a variable defined
outside all functions; it is accessible to
all functions within its scope
• Easy way to share large amounts of
data between functions
• Scope of a global variable is from its
point of definition to the program end
• Use sparingly
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 Local Variable Lifetime

• A local variable only exists while its

defining function is executing
• Local variables are destroyed when the
function terminates
• Data cannot be retained in local
variables between calls to the function in
which they are defined

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 Initializing Local and Global Variables
• Local variables must be initialized by the
programmer
• Global variables are initialized to 0
(numeric) or NULL (character) when the
variable is defined

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 Global Variables – Why Use Sparingly?

Global variables make:

• Programs that are difficult to debug

• Functions that cannot easily be re-used in
other programs
• Programs that are hard to understand

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 Local and Global Variable Names

• Local variables can have same names as

global variables
• When a function contains a local variable
that has the same name as a global
variable, the global variable is unavailable
from within the function. The local definition
"hides" or "shadows" the global definition.

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 6.11 Static Local Variables

• Local variables
– Only exist while the function is executing
– Are redefined each time function is called
– Lose their contents when function terminates
• static local variables
– Are defined with key word static
static int counter;
– Are defined and initialized only the first time the
function is executed
– Retain their contents between function calls
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 6.12 Default Arguments

• Values passed automatically if arguments

are missing from the function call
• Must be a constant declared in prototype
void evenOrOdd(int = 0);
• Multi-parameter functions may have default
arguments for some or all of them
int getSum(int, int=0, int=0);

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 Default Arguments
• If not all parameters to a function have
default values, the ones without defaults
must be declared first in the parameter list
int getSum(int, int=0, int=0);// OK
int getSum(int, int=0, int); // wrong!
• 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); // wrong!
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 6.13 Using Reference Variables as
Parameters

• 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 1 value
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 Reference Variables

• 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
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 Pass by Reference Example

void squareIt(int &); //prototype

void squareIt(int &num)
{
num *= num;
}

int localVar = 5;
squareIt(localVar); // localVar now
// contains 25

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 Reference Variable Notes

• Each reference parameter must contain &

• Argument passed to reference parameter must
be a variable (cannot be an expression or
constant)
• Use only when appropriate, such as when the
function must input or change the value of the
argument passed to it
• Files (i.e., file stream objects) should be
passed by reference
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 6.14 Overloading Functions

• Overloaded functions are two or more

functions that have the same name, but different
parameter lists
• Can be used to create functions that perform the
same task, but take different parameter types or
different number of parameters
• Compiler will determine which version of function
to call by argument and parameter list

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 Overloaded Functions Example
If a program has these overloaded functions,
void getDimensions(int); // 1
void getDimensions(int, int); // 2
void getDimensions(int, float); // 3
void getDimensions(double, double);// 4
then the compiler will use them as follows:
int length, width;
double base, height;
getDimensions(length); // 1
getDimensions(length, width); // 2
getDimensions(length, height); // 3
getDimensions(height, base); // 4

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 6.15 The exit() Function

• Terminates execution of a program

• Can be called from any function
• Can pass a value to operating system to
indicate status of program execution
• Usually used for abnormal termination of
program
• Requires cstdlib header file
• Use carefully
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 exit() – Passing Values to Operating
System

• Use an integer value to indicate program

status
• Often, 0 means successful completion,
non-zero indicates a failure condition
• Can use named constants defined in
cstdlib:
– EXIT_SUCCESS and
– EXIT_FAILURE

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 6.16 Stubs and Drivers

• Stub: dummy function in place of actual

function
• Usually displays a message indicating it
was called. May also display parameters
• Driver: function that tests a function by
calling it
• Stubs and drivers are useful for testing
and debugging program logic and design

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 Chapter 6: Functions

Starting Out with C++

Early Objects
Seventh Edition

by Tony Gaddis, Judy Walters,

and Godfrey Muganda

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley