Functions

Defining and Using C++ Functions

SoftUni Team
Technical Trainers
Software University
https://softuni.bg
Table of Contents
1. What is a Function
 Calling, Defining, Implementing
2. Declaring vs. Defining
3. Functions with Parameters
4. Returning Values from Functions
5. Static Variables Inside Functions
6. Value vs. Reference Types
 Memory Stack and Heap 2
Have a Question?

sli.do
#cpp-fundamentals
3
 Functions
Calling, Defining, Implementing
What is a Function?
 Named block of code, that performs a specific task
 Can take parameters and return a value
 Sample function definition: Function named
printHelloWorld
void printHelloWorld ()
{
Function body
cout << "Hello World!" <<
always
endl; surrounded
}
 Also known as methods by { }

 main() is a function
5
Why Use Functions?
 More manageable programming
 Splits large problems into small pieces
 Better organization of the program
 Improves code readability
 Improves code understandability
 Avoiding repeating code
 Improves code maintainability
 Code reusability
 Using existing methods several times
6
 {…}
Declaring and Calling Functions
Declaring Functions
 Declaration – function's name, return type and parameters
 Can be separate from definition (which includes
the code block)
 Parameters: empty, single, or several separated by ,
Type Function name Parameters

void PrintNumber(int
number) Function
{ body
cout << number << endl;
} 8
Calling Functions
 Using functions is almost like using variables, however:
 You write () after them, which could contain parameters
 Most functions return a value – you can use it in an expression
 void functions don't have values
void HelloWorld()
{
std::cout << "Hello World!" <<
std::endl;
}

int main() {
HelloWorld();
return 0; 9
}
 {…}
Declaring and Calling Functions
LIVE DEMO
Declaring vs. Defining Functions
Declaring vs. Defining Functions
 Declaration – tells the compiler there #include<iostream>
is certain a function using namespace std;

 Can be anywhere void HelloWorld();

 Can appear multiple times int main() {

 Same visibility rules as for variables HelloWorld();
 Definition – function's execution }
return 0;

 Can be declared but not defined –

void HelloWorld()
compilation error if called {
cout << "Hello World!" <<
endl;
} 12
Declaring vs. Defining Functions
LIVE DEMO
 st r i n g
uint
long
byte short
ulong ushort

int sbyte

Functions with Parameters

Function Parameters
 Function parameters can be of any data type
 Parameters are just variables living in the function’s block
void printNumbers(int start, int Multiple parameters
end) separated by comma
{
for (int i = start; i <= end; i+
+)
{
std::cout << i << std::endl;
}
 Call the method with certain values (arguments)
}
int main() Passing arguments
{
printNumbers(5, 10);
when called
return 0;
} 15
Parameters & Default Values
 Parameters with default values can be omitted
by the caller
#include <iostream>
 If omitted are void CountNumbers(int a = 1, int b =
10)
initialized with {
the default value for( int i = a; i <= b; i++ )
{
 Must be last in the std::cout << i << std::endl;
}
parameter list }
int main()
{
CountNumbers(5, 10);
return 0;
} 16
Returning Values from Functions
Returning Values from Functions
 The return keyword immediately stops the
function's execution
 Returns the specified value
 Non-void functions must have a return followed
by a value
int getMax(int a, int b) {
if (a > b) {
return a;
}
return b;
}
18
Using the Return Values
 Return value can be:
 Assigned to a variable:
int max = getMax(5,
10);
 Used in expression:
double total = getPrice() * quantity *
1.20;

19
Parameters and Returning Values
LIVE DEMO
Overloading Functions
Overloaded Functions
 Using the same function name and return type but with
different parameter list
 Different number or types of parameters
int getMax(int a, int b) {
if (a > b) {
return a;
}
return b;
}

int getMax(int a, int b, int c) {

return getMax(a, getMax(b, c));
}
22
Overloading Functions
LIVE DEMO
Static Variables Inside Functions
static Variables Inside Functions
 static variables live through entire program,
initialized once
 static variables can be used inside functions to track state
 E.g. how many times a function was called
void CountNumbers( int a = 1, int b = 10 )
{
static int num = 0;
for( int i = a; i <= b; i++ )
{
cout << i << endl;
num++;
}
cout << "Static int -> " << num << endl;
} 25
Static Variables Inside Functions
LIVE DEMO
Value vs. Reference Types
Memory Stack and Heap
Value Types

 Value type variables hold directly their value

 int, float, double, bool, Stack
char… i
 Each variable has its 42 (4 bytes)
own copy of the value ch

int i = 42; A (1 bytes)

char ch = 'A'; result

bool result = true; true (1 byte)
28
Reference Types
 Reference type variables hold а reference
(pointer / memory address) of the value itself
 Two reference type variables can reference the
same variable
 Operations on both variables access/modify
the same data

29
Value vs. Reference Types

30
Passing By Value vs. Passing By Reference
 Parameters are normally copies int square(int num) {
num = num * num;
of their originals return num;
}
 Changing them does NOT change void swap(int& a, int& b) {
the caller's variables int oldA = a; a = b; b =
oldA;
 "Passing by value" }

int main() {
 To access the caller's variables int x = 5;
std::cout << square(x);
directly, use references //25
std::cout << x; //5
 Syntax: DataType& param int y = 42;
swap(x, y);
 "Passing by reference" std::cout << x; //42 31
Value vs. Reference Types
LIVE DEMO
Summary

 Break
… large programs into simple
functions
… that solve small sub-problems
 Functions consist of declaration and body
 …
 Functions are called by their name + ()
 Functions can accept parameters
 Functions can return a value or
nothing (void)

33
Questions?

© SoftUni – https://about.softuni.bg. Copyrighted document. Unauthorized copy, reproduction or use is not permitted.
SoftUni Diamond Partners
Educational Partners

36
License

 This course (slides, examples, demos, exercises, homework,

documents, videos and other assets) is copyrighted content
 Unauthorized copy, reproduction or use is illegal
 © SoftUni – https://about.softuni.bg/
 © Software University – https://softuni.bg

37
Trainings @ Software University (SoftUni)
 Software University – High-Quality Education,
Profession and Job for Software Developers
 softuni.bg, about.softuni.bg
 Software University Foundation
 softuni.foundation
 Software University @ Facebook
 facebook.com/SoftwareUniversity
 Software University Forums
 forum.softuni.bg
38