Computer Skills & Programming II Dr.

Shaymah Akram

Lecture 3: Functions in C++

C++ Function

A function is a block of code that performs a specific task.

You can pass data, known as parameters, into a function.

There are two types of function:

1. Standard Library Functions: Predefined in C++

2. User-defined Function: Created by users

C++ User-defined Function

A user-defined function groups code to perform a specific task and that

group of code is given a name (identifier).

When the function is invoked from any part of the program, it all executes
the codes defined in the body of the function.

Function Declaration and Definition

Syntax
void myFunction() {
// code to be executed
}

Example Explained

• myFunction() is the name of the function.

• void means that the function does not have a return value.
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

• inside the function (the body), add code that defines what the
function should do.

Note: If a user-defined function, such as myFunction() is declared after

the main() function, an error will occur. It is because C++ works from top to
bottom; which means that if the function is not declared above main(),
the program is unaware of it:

Example
// Function declaration
void myFunction() {
cout << "I just got executed!";
}

// The main method

int main() {
myFunction(); // call the function
return 0;
}

Example
// Function declaration
void myFunction();

// The main method

int main() {
myFunction(); // call the function
return 0;
}

// Function definition
void myFunction() {
cout << "I just got executed!";
}

Call a Function

To call a function, write the function's name followed by two parentheses

() and a semicolon ;
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

In the following example, myFunction() is used to print a text (the action),

when it is called:

Example Inside main, call myFunction():

// Create a function
void myFunction() {
cout << "I just got executed!";
}

int main() {
myFunction(); // call the function
return 0;
}

// Outputs "I just got executed!"

Parameters

Information can be passed to functions as a parameter. Parameters act as

variables inside the function.

Parameters are specified after the function name, inside the parentheses.
You can add as many parameters as you want, just separate them with a
comma:

Syntax
void functionName(parameter1, parameter2, parameter3) {
// code to be executed
}

The following example has a function that takes a string called fname as
parameter. When the function is called, we pass along a first name, which
is used inside the function to print the full name:

Example
void myFunction(string fname) {
cout << fname << " Refsnes\n";
}

int main() {
myFunction("Liam");
myFunction("Jenny");
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

myFunction("Anja");
return 0;
}

// Liam Refsnes
// Jenny Refsnes
// Anja Refsnes

Default Parameter Value

You can also use a default parameter value, by using the equals sign (=).

If we call the function without an argument, it uses the default value

("Norway"):

Example
void myFunction(string country = "Norway") {
cout << country << "\n";
}

int main() {
myFunction("Sweden");
myFunction("India");
myFunction();
myFunction("USA");
return 0;
}

// Sweden
// India
// Norway
// USA

Multiple Parameters

Inside the function, you can add as many parameters as you want:

Example
void myFunction(string fname, int age) {
cout << fname << " Refsnes. " << age << " years old. \n";
}

int main() {
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

myFunction("Liam", 3);
myFunction("Jenny", 14);
myFunction("Anja", 30);
return 0;
}

// Liam Refsnes. 3 years old.

// Jenny Refsnes. 14 years old.
// Anja Refsnes. 30 years old.

Pass by Reference

You can also pass a reference to the function. This can be useful when
you need to change the value of the arguments:

Example
void swapNums(int &x, int &y) {
int z = x;
x = y;
y = z;
}

int main() {
int firstNum = 5;
int secondNum = 3;

cout << "Before swap: " << "\n";

cout << firstNum << secondNum << "\n";

// Call the function, which will change the values of firstNum and
secondNum
swapNums(firstNum, secondNum);

cout << "After swap: " << "\n";

cout << firstNum << secondNum << "\n";

return 0;
}

Return Values

The void keyword, used in the previous examples, indicates that the
function should not return a value. If you want the function to return a
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

value, you can use a data type (such as int, string, etc.) instead of void,
and use the return keyword inside the function:

Example
int myFunction(int x) {
return 5 + x;
}

int main() {
cout << myFunction(3);
return 0;
}

// Outputs 8

This example returns the sum of a function with two parameters:

Example
int myFunction(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

int main() {
cout << myFunction(5, 3);
return 0;
}

// Outputs 8

You can also store the result in a variable:

Example
int myFunction(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

int main() {
int z = myFunction(5, 3);
cout << z;
return 0;
}
// Outputs 8
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

Return by Reference

Example:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Global variable
int num;

// Function declaration
int& test();

int main()
{
test() = 5;

cout << num;

return 0;
}

int& test()
{
return num;
}

Output
5

In program above, the return type of function test() is int&. Hence, this
function returns a reference of the variable num.

The return statement is return num;. Unlike return by value, this

statement doesn't return value of num, instead it returns the variable
itself (address).

So, when the variable is returned, it can be assigned a value as done

in test() = 5;

This stores 5 to the variable num, which is displayed onto the screen.

Difference between call by value and call by reference in C++

Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

No. Call by value Call by reference

1 A copy of value is passed to An address of value is

the function passed to the function

2 Changes made inside the Changes made inside the

function is not reflected on function is reflected outside
other functions the function also

3 Actual and formal arguments Actual and formal arguments

will be created in different will be created in same
memory location memory location

Function Overloading

With function overloading, multiple functions can have the same name
with different parameters:

Example
int myFunction(int x)
float myFunction(float x)
double myFunction(double x, double y)

Consider the following example, which have two functions that add
numbers of different type:

Example
int plusFuncInt(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

double plusFuncDouble(double x, double y) {

return x + y;
}

int main() {
int myNum1 = plusFuncInt(8, 5);
double myNum2 = plusFuncDouble(4.3, 6.26);
cout << "Int: " << myNum1 << "\n";
cout << "Double: " << myNum2;
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

return 0;
}

Instead of defining two functions that should do the same thing, it is

better to overload one.

In the example below, we overload the plusFunc function to work for

both int and double:

Example
int plusFunc(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

double plusFunc(double x, double y) {

return x + y;
}

int main() {
int myNum1 = plusFunc(8, 5);
double myNum2 = plusFunc(4.3, 6.26);
cout << "Int: " << myNum1 << "\n";
cout << "Double: " << myNum2;
return 0;
}

Functions Local and global variables

A scope is a region of the program and broadly speaking there are three places, where
variables can be declared −

• Inside a function or a block which is called local variables,

• In the definition of function parameters which is called formal parameters.
• Outside of all functions which are called global variables.
Local variables can be used only by statements that are inside that function or block
of code. Local variables are not known to functions on their own.
Example
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main () {
// Local variable declaration:
int a, b;
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

int c;
// actual initialization
a = 10;
b = 20;
c = a + b;

cout << c;
return 0;
}

Output
This will give the output −

30

Global variables are defined outside of all the functions, usually on top of the program.
The global variables will hold their value throughout the lifetime of your program. A
global variable can be accessed by any function.
Example
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
// Global variable declaration:
int g;
int main () {
// Local variable declaration:
int a, b;

// actual initialization
a = 10;
b = 20;
g = a + b;

cout << g;
return 0;
}

Output
This will give the output −

30

A program can have the same name for local and global variables but the value of a
local variable inside a function will take preference. For accessing the global variable
with same rame, you'll have to use the scope resolution operator.
Example
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Global variable declaration:

int g = 20;
int main () {
// Local variable declaration:
int g = 10;

cout << g; // Local

cout << ::g; // Global
return 0;
}
Output
This will give the output −

10
20

C++ Standard Function

Functions of <cmath> header file.

The C++ <cmath> header file declares a set of functions to perform
mathematical operations.

C++ ceil()
Return ceiling value of number
The ceil() function in C++ returns the smallest possible integer value which is
greater than or equal to the given argument.

ceil() Parameters
The ceil() function takes a single argument whose ceiling value is computed.

Example 1: ceil() function for double, float and long double types

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

int main()
{
double x = 10.25, result;
result = ceil(x);
cout << "Ceil of " << x << " = " << result << endl;
return 0;
}

Output

Ceil of 10.25 = 11

C++ floor()
The floor() function in C++ returns the largest possible integer value which is less
than or equal to the given argument.

floor() Parameters

The floor() function takes a single argument whose floor value is computed.

floor() Return value

The floor() function returns the largest possible integer value which is less than or
equal to the given argument.

Example 1: How floor() works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = 10.25, result;
result = floor(x);
cout << "Floor of " << x << " = " << result << endl;
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

x = -34.251;
result = floor(x);
cout << "Floor of " << x << " = " << result << endl;

x = 0.71;
result = floor(x);
cout << "Floor of " << x << " = " << result << endl;

return 0;
}

Output:

Floor of 10.25 = 10
Floor of -34.251 = -35
Floor of 0.71 = 0

Example 2: floor() function for integral types

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
int x = 15;
double result;
result = floor(x);
cout << "Floor of " << x << " = " << result << endl;

return 0;
}

Output:

Floor of 15 = 15
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

C++ round()
Returns integral value nearest to argument
The round() function in C++ returns the integral value that is nearest to the
argument, with halfway cases rounded away from zero.

round() Parameters
The round() function takes a single argument value to round.

Example 1: How round() works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = 11.16, result;
result = round(x);
cout << "round(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

x = 13.87;
result = round(x);
cout << "round(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

x = 50.5;
result = round(x);
cout << "round(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

x = -11.16;
result = round(x);
cout << "round(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

x = -13.87;
result = round(x);
cout << "round(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

x = -50.5;
result = round(x);
cout << "round(" << x
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

round(11.16) = 11
round(13.87) = 14
round(50.5) = 51
round(-11.16) = -11
round(-13.87) = -14
round(-50.5) = -51

C++ trunc()
Truncates the decimal part of a number
Truncates a double value after the decimal point and gives the integer part as the
result. The return value and the arguments are of the type double.

trunc() Parameters

The trunc() function takes a single argument whose trunc value is to be computed.

Example 1: How trunc() works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = 10.25, result;
result = trunc(x);
cout << "trunc(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

x = -34.251;
result = trunc(x);
cout << "trunc(" << x << ") = " << result << endl;

return 0;
}

trunc(10.25) = 10
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

trunc(-34.251) = -34

------------------------------------------------------------

Output:

value round floor ceil trunc

----- ----- ----- ---- -----
2.3 2.0 2.0 3.0 2.0
3.8 4.0 3.0 4.0 3.0
5.5 6.0 5.0 6.0 5.0
-2.3 -2.0 -3.0 -2.0 -2.0
-3.8 -4.0 -4.0 -3.0 -3.0
-5.5 -6.0 -6.0 -5.0 -5.0

C++ exp()
returns exponential (e) raised to a number

The exp() function in C++ returns the exponential.

exp() Parameters

The exp() function takes a single mandatory argument and can be any value i.e.
negative, positive or zero.

exp() Return value

The exp() function returns the value in the range of [0, ∞].

Example 1: How exp() function works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

int main()
{
double x = 2.19, result;

result = exp(x);
cout << "exp(x) = " << result << endl;

return 0;
}

exp(x) = 8.93521

C++ sqrt()
Computes Square Root of a Number

The sqrt() function in C++ returns the square root of a number.

sqrt() Parameters

The sqrt() function takes a single non-negative argument.

If negative argument is passed to sqrt() function, domain error occurs.

Example 1: How sqrt() works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = 10.25, result;
result = sqrt(x);
cout << "Square root of " << x << " is " << result << endl;

return 0;
}
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

Square root of 10.25 is 3.20156

C++ fmax()
returns largest among two arguments passed

The fmax() function in C++ takes two arguments and returns the largest among
them. If one of the argument is NaN, the other argument is returned.

fmax() Parameters

x: The first argument of fmax().

y: The second argument of fmax().

Example 1: fmax() function for arguments of same type

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = -2.05, y = NAN, result;

result = fmax(x, y);

cout << "fmax(x, y) = " << result << endl;

return 0;
}

Example 2: fmax() function for arguments of different types

Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = 56.13, result;
int y = 89;

result = fmax(x, y);

cout << "fmax(x, y) = " << result << endl;

return 0;
}

When you run the program, the output will be:

fmax(x, y) = 89

C++ fmin()
returns smallest among two given arguments

The fmin() function in C++ takes two arguments and returns the smallest among
them. If one of the argument is NaN, the other argument is returned.

C++ fabs()
returns absolute value of argument

The fabs() function in C++ returns the absolute value of the argument.

fabs() Parameters
The fabs() function takes a single argument, x whose absolute value is returned.

Example 1: How fabs() function works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = -10.25, result;

result = fabs(x);
cout << "fabs(" << x << ") = |" << x << "| = " << result <<
endl;

return 0;
}

fabs(-10.25) = |-10.25| = 10.25

C++ remainder()
Returns remainder of x/y

The remainder() function in C++ computes the floating point remainder of

numerator/denominator (rounded to nearest).

remainder() Parameters
• x - The value of numerator.
• y - The value of denominator.
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

Example 1: How remainder() works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
double x = 7.5, y = 2.1;
double result = remainder(x, y);
cout << "Remainder of " << x << "/" << y << " = " << result <<
endl;

x = -17.50, y=2.0;
result = remainder(x, y);
cout << "Remainder of " << x << "/" << y << " = " << result <<
endl;

y=0;
result = remainder(x, y);
cout << "Remainder of " << x << "/" << y << " = " << result <<
endl;

return 0;
}

Remainder of 7.5/2.1 = -0.9

Remainder of -17.5/2 = 0.5
Remainder of -17.5/0 = -nan

Example 2: remainder() function for arguments of different types

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
int x = 5;
double y = 2.13, result;
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

result = remainder(x, y);

cout << "Remainder of " << x << "/" << y << " = " << result <<
endl;

return 0;
}

Remainder of 5/2.13 = 0.74

C++ pow()
Computes Power a Number

The pow() function computes a base number raised to the power of exponent
number.

pow() Parameters

The pow() function takes two arguments:

• base - the base value

• exponent - exponent of the base

Example 1: How pow() works in C++?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namespace std;

int main ()
{
double base, exponent, result;

base = 3.4;
exponent = 4.4;
result = pow(base, exponent);
Computer Skills & Programming II Dr. Shaymah Akram

cout << base << "^" << exponent << " = " << result;

return 0;
}

output

3.4^4.4 = 218.025