C++ Functions

In this tutorial, we will learn about the C++ function and function expressions with the help
of examples.

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

Suppose we need to create a program to create a circle and color it. We can create two
functions to solve this problem:

a function to draw the circle

a function to color the circle

Dividing a complex problem into smaller chunks makes our program easy to understand
and reusable.

There are two types of function:

1. Standard Library Functions: Predefined in C++

2. User-defined Function: Created by users

In this tutorial, we will focus mostly on user-defined functions.

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.
C++ Function Declaration

The syntax to declare a function is:

returnType functionName (parameter1, parameter2,...) {

// function body

Here's an example of a function declaration.

// function declaration

void greet() {

cout << "Hello World";

Here,

the name of the function is  greet()

the return type of the function is  void

the empty parentheses mean it doesn't have any parameters

the function body is written inside  {}

Note: We will learn about  returnType  and  parameters  later in this tutorial.

Calling a Function

In the above program, we have declared a function named  greet() . To use the  greet()

 function, we need to call it.

Here's how we can call the above  greet()  function.

// calling a function

greet();

How Function works in C++

Example 1: Display a Text

using namespace std;

// declaring a function

void greet() {

cout << "Hello there!";

int main() {

// calling the function

greet();

return 0;

Output

Hello there!

Function Parameters

As mentioned above, a function can be declared with parameters (arguments). A

For example, let us consider the function below:

void printNum(int num) {

cout << num;

Here, the  int  variable  num  is the function parameter.

Ad
We pass a value to the function parameter while calling the function.

int main() {

int n = 7;

// calling the function

// n is passed to the function as argument

printNum(n);

return 0;

Example 2: Function with Parameters

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

// display a number

void displayNum(int n1, float n2) {

cout << "The int number is " << n1;

cout << "The double number is " << n2;

int main() {

int num1 = 5;

double num2 = 5.5;

// calling the function

displayNum(num1, num2);

return 0;

Output

The int number is 5

The double number is 5.5

In the above program, we have used a function that has one  int  parameter and one 
double  parameter.

We then pass  num1  and  num2  as arguments. These values are stored by the function
parameters  n1  and  n2  respectively.
 C++ function with parameters

Note: The type of the arguments passed while calling the function must match with
the corresponding parameters defined in the function declaration.

Return Statement

In the above programs, we have used void in the function declaration. For example,

void displayNumber() {

// code

This means the function is not returning any value.

It's also possible to return a value from a function. For this, we need to specify the 
returnType  of the function during function declaration.

Then, the  return  statement can be used to return a value from a function.

For example,
 int add (int a, int b) {

return (a + b);

Here, we have the data type  int  instead of  void . This means that the function returns
an  int  value.

The code  return (a + b);  returns the sum of the two parameters as the function value.

The  return  statement denotes that the function has ended. Any code after  return  inside
the function is not executed.

Example 3: Add Two Numbers

// program to add two numbers using a function

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

// declaring a function

int add(int a, int b) {

return (a + b);

int main() {

int sum;

// calling the function and storing

// the returned value in sum

sum = add(100, 78);

cout << "100 + 78 = " << sum << endl;

return 0;

}
Output

100 + 78 = 178

In the above program, the  add()  function is used to find the sum of two numbers.

We pass two  int  literals  100  and  78  while calling the function.

We store the returned value of the function in the variable  sum , and then we print it.

Working of C++ Function with return statement

Notice that  sum  is a variable of  int  type. This is because the return value of  add()  is of 
int  type.

Function Prototype

In C++, the code of function declaration should be before the function call. However, if we
want to define a function after the function call, we need to use the function prototype. For
example,
 // function prototype

void add(int, int);

int main() {

// calling the function before declaration.

add(5, 3);

return 0;

// function definition

void add(int a, int b) {

cout << (a + b);

In the above code, the function prototype is:

void add(int, int);

This provides the compiler with information about the function name and its parameters.
That's why we can use the code to call a function before the function has been defined.

The syntax of a function prototype is:

returnType functionName(dataType1, dataType2, ...);

Example 4: C++ Function Prototype

// function prototype is declared before main()

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

// function prototype

int add(int, int);

int main() {

int sum;

// calling the function and storing

// the returned value in sum

sum = add(100, 78);

cout << "100 + 78 = " << sum << endl;

return 0;

// function definition

int add(int a, int b) {

return (a + b);

Output

100 + 78 = 178

The above program is nearly identical to Example 3. The only difference is that here, the
function is defined after the function call.

That's why we have used a function prototype in this example.

Benefits of Using User-Defined Functions

Functions make the program easier as each small task is divided into a function.

Functions increase readability.

C++ Library Functions

Programmers can use library functions by invoking the functions directly; they don't need
to write the functions themselves.

Some common library functions in C++ are  sqrt() ,  abs() ,  isdigit() , etc.

In order to use library functions, we usually need to include the header file in which these
library functions are defined.

For instance, in order to use mathematical functions such as  sqrt()  and  abs() , we need
to include the header file  cmath .

Example 5: C++ Program to Find the Square Root of a Number

#include <cmath>

using namespace std;

int main() {

double number, squareRoot;

number = 25.0;

// sqrt() is a library function to calculate the square root

squareRoot = sqrt(number);

cout << "Square root of " << number << " = " << squareRoot;

return 0;

Output

Square root of 25 = 5

In this program, the  sqrt()  library function is used to calculate the square root of a
number.

The function declaration of  sqrt()  is defined in the  cmath  header file. That's why we need
to use the code  #include <cmath>  to use the  sqrt()  function.