Chapter 6:

User-Defined Functions
 Objectives
In this chapter, you will:
• Learn about standard (predefined) functions
• Learn about user-defined functions
• Examine value-returning functions
• Construct and use a value-returning, user-defined
function
• Construct and use void functions
• Understand value and reference parameters

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 Objectives (cont’d.)
In this chapter, you will (cont’d.):
• Learn about the scope of identifiers
• Understand local and global identifiers
• Learn about static variables
• Debug programs using drivers and stubs
• Learn about function overloading
• Explore functions with default parameters

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 Introduction
• Functions are often called modules
• They are like miniature programs that can be
combined to form larger programs
• They allow complicated programs to be divided
into manageable pieces

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 Predefined Functions
• In C++, a function is similar to that of a
function in algebra
– It has a name
– It does some computation
• Some of the predefined mathematical
functions are:
sqrt(x)
pow(x, y)
floor(x)
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Sixth Edition 5
 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)
• Predefined functions are organized into
separate libraries
– I/O functions are in iostream header
– Math functions are in cmath header
• To use predefined functions, you must include
the header file using an include statement
• See Table 6-1 in the text for some common
predefined functions

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 User-Defined Functions
• Value-returning functions: have a return type
– Return a value of a specific data type using the
return statement
• Void functions: do not have a return type
– Do not use a return statement to return a value

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 Value-Returning Functions
• To use these functions, you must:
– Include the appropriate header file in your
program using the include statement
– Know the following items:
• Name of the function
• Number of parameters, if any
• Data type of each parameter
• Data type of the value returned: called the type of the
function

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 Value-Returning Functions
(cont’d.)
• Can use the value returned by a value-
returning function by:
– Saving it for further calculation
– Using it in some calculation
– Printing it
• A value-returning function is used in an
assignment or in an output statement

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 Value-Returning Functions
(cont’d.)
• Heading (or function header): first line of the
function
– Example: int abs(int number)
• Formal parameter: variable declared in the
heading
– Example: number
• Actual parameter: variable or expression listed
in a call to a function
– Example: x = pow(u, v)
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 Syntax: Value-Returning Function
• Syntax:

• functionType is also called the data type

or return type

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 Syntax: Formal Parameter List

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 Function Call
• Syntax to call a value-returning function:

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 Syntax: Actual Parameter List
• Syntax of the actual parameter list:

• Formal parameter list can be empty:

• A call to a value-returning function with an

empty formal parameter list is:

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 return Statement
• Function returns its value via the return
statement
– It passes this value outside the function

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 Syntax: return Statement
• Syntax:

• In C++, return is a reserved word

• When a return statement executes
– Function immediately terminates
– Control goes back to the caller
• When a return statement executes in the
function main, the program terminates
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 Syntax: return Statement
(cont’d.)

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 Function Prototype
• Function prototype: function heading without
the body of the function
• Syntax:

• Not necessary to specify the variable name in

the parameter list
• Data type of each parameter must be
specified
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 Value-Returning Functions: Some
Peculiarities

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 Value-Returning Functions: Some
Peculiarities (cont’d.)

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 Flow of Execution
• Execution always begins at the first statement
in the function main
• Other functions are executed only when called
• Function prototypes appear before any
function definition
– Compiler translates these first
• Compiler can then correctly translate a
function call

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 Flow of Execution (cont’d.)
• Function call transfers control to the first
statement in the body of the called function
• When the end of a called function is executed,
control is passed back to the point immediately
following the function call
– Function’s returned value replaces the function
call statement

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 Void Functions
• User-defined void functions can be placed
either before or after the function main
• If user-defined void functions are placed after
the function main
– The function prototype must be placed before the
function main
• Void function does not have a return type
– return statement without any value is typically
used to exit the function early
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 Void Functions (cont’d.)
• Formal parameters are optional
• A call to a void function is a stand-alone
statement
• Void function definition syntax:

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 Void Functions (cont’d.)
• Formal parameter list syntax:

• Function call syntax:

• Actual parameter list syntax:

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 Void Functions (cont’d.)
• Value parameter: a formal parameter that
receives a copy of the content of
corresponding actual parameter
• Reference parameter: a formal parameter that
receives the location (memory address) of the
corresponding actual parameter

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 Value Parameters
• If a formal parameter is a value parameter:
– The value of the corresponding actual parameter
is copied into it
– Formal parameter has its own copy of the data
• During program execution
– Formal parameter manipulates the data stored in
its own memory space

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Reference Variables as Parameters
• If a formal parameter is a reference parameter
– It receives the memory address of the
corresponding actual parameter
• During program execution to manipulate data
– Changes to formal parameter will change the
corresponding actual parameter

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 Reference Variables as Parameters
(cont'd.)
• Reference parameters are useful in three
situations:
– Returning more than one value
– Changing the actual parameter
– When passing the address would save memory
space and time

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 Value and Reference Parameters and
Memory Allocation
• When a function is called
– Memory for its formal parameters and its local
variables is allocated in the function data area
• For a value parameter, the actual parameter’s
value is copied into the formal parameter’s
memory cell
– Changes to the formal parameter do not affect the
actual parameter’s value

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 Value and Reference Parameters and
Memory Allocation (cont’d.)
• For a reference parameter, the actual
parameter’s address passes to the formal
parameter
• Both formal and actual parameters refer to the
same memory location
• During execution, changes made to the formal
parameter’s value permanently change the actual
parameter’s value

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 Reference Parameters and Value-
Returning Functions
• Can also use reference parameters in a value-
returning function
– Not recommended
• By definition, a value-returning function
returns a single value via return statement
• If a function needs to return more than one
value, change it to a void function and use
reference parameters to return the values

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 Scope of an Identifier
• Scope of an identifier: where in the program
the identifier is accessible
• Local identifier: identifiers declared within a
function (or block)
• Global identifier: identifiers declared outside
of every function definition
• C++ does not allow nested functions
– Definition of one function cannot be included in
the body of another function

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 Scope of an Identifier (cont’d.)
• Rules when an identifier is accessed:
– Global identifiers are accessible by a function or
block if:
• Declared before function definition
• Function name different from identifier
• Parameters to the function have different names
• All local identifiers have different names

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 Scope of an Identifier (cont’d.)
• Rules when an identifier is accessed (cont’d.):
– Nested block
• Identifier accessible from declaration to end of block in
which it is declared
• Within nested blocks if no identifier with same name
exists
– Scope of function name similar to scope of
identifier declared outside any block
• i.e., function name scope = global variable scope

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 Scope of an Identifier (cont’d.)
• Some compilers initialize global variables to
default values
• Scope resolution operator in C++ is ::
• By using the scope resolution operator
– A global variable declared before the definition of
a function (or block) can be accessed by the
function (or block)
– Even if the function (or block) has an identifier
with the same name as the global variable

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 Scope of an Identifier (cont’d.)
• To access a global variable declared after the
definition of a function, the function must not
contain any identifier with the same name
– Reserved word extern indicates that a global
variable has been declared elsewhere

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 Global Variables, Named
Constants, and Side Effects
• Using global variables causes side effects
• A function that uses global variables is not
independent
• If more than one function uses the same
global variable:
– Can be difficult to debug problems with it
– Problems caused in one area of the program may
appear to be from another area
• Global named constants have no side effects
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 Static and Automatic Variables
• Automatic variable: memory is allocated at
block entry and deallocated at block exit
– By default, variables declared within a block are
automatic variables
• Static variable: memory remains allocated as
long as the program executes
– Global variables declared outside of any block are
static variables

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 Static and Automatic Variables
(cont’d.)
• Can declare a static variable within a block by
using the reserved word static
• Syntax:

• Static variables declared within a block are

local to the block
– Have same scope as any other local identifier in
that block

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 Debugging:
Using Drivers and Stubs
• Driver program: separate program used to test
a function
• When results calculated by one function are
needed in another function, use a function
stub
• Function stub: a function that is not fully
coded

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 Function Overloading:
An Introduction
• In a C++ program, several functions can have
the same name
• Function overloading: creating several
functions with the same name
• Function signature: the name and formal
parameter list of the function
– Does not include the return type of the function

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 Function Overloading (cont’d.)
• Two functions are said to have different
formal parameter lists if both functions have
either:
– A different number of formal parameters
– If the number of formal parameters is the same,
but the data type of the formal parameters differs
in at least one position
• Overloaded functions must have different
function signatures
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 Function Overloading (cont’d.)
• The parameter list supplied in a call to an
overloaded function determines which
function is executed

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Functions with Default Parameters
• In a function call, the number of actual and
formal parameters must be the same
– C++ relaxes this condition for functions with
default parameters
• Can specify the value of a default parameter in
the function prototype
• If you do not specify the value for a default
parameter when calling the function, the
default value is used

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Functions with Default Parameters
(cont’d.)
• All default parameters must be the rightmost
parameters of the function
• If a default parameter value is not specified:
– You must omit all of the arguments to its right
• Default values can be constants, global
variables, or function calls
• Cannot assign a constant value as a default
value to a reference parameter
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 Summary
• Functions (modules) divide a program into
manageable tasks
• C++ provides standard, predefined functions
• Two types of user-defined functions: value-
returning functions and void functions
• Variables defined in a function heading are called
formal parameters
• Expressions, variables, or constant values in a
function call are called actual parameters
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 Summary (cont’d.)
• Function heading and the body of the function
are called the definition of the function
• A value-returning function returns its value via
the return statement
• A prototype is the function heading without the
body of the function
• User-defined functions execute only when they
are called
• Void functions do not have a data type
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 Summary (cont’d.)
• Two types of formal parameters:
– A value parameter receives a copy of its
corresponding actual parameter
– A reference parameter receives the memory
address of its corresponding actual parameter
• Variables declared within a function (or block)
are called local variables
• Variables declared outside of every function
definition (and block) are global variables
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 Summary (cont’d.)
• Automatic variable: variable for which
memory is allocated on function/block entry
and deallocated on function/block exit
• Static variable: memory remains allocated
throughout the execution of the program
• C++ functions can have default parameters

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