C Programming Functions Quiz

5 Questions

Explain the two types of functions in C programming and provide an example of each type.

There are two types of functions in C programming: standard library functions and user-defined functions. Standard library functions are built-in functions like printf() and scanf(), while user-defined functions are created by the user to meet specific needs.

What is the purpose of a function in programming?

A function is a block of code that runs when it is called and is used to perform specific actions. It allows for the reuse of code by defining it once and using it many times.

What are the parameter passing techniques in C programming? Explain the difference between call by value and call by reference.

The parameter passing techniques in C programming are call by value and call by reference. Call by value passes the value of a variable to a function, while call by reference passes the address of the variable to the function, allowing the function to directly modify the value of the variable.

How are pointers and arrays passed to functions in C programming?

Pointers and arrays are passed to functions by passing the address of the first element of the array or the address of the pointer. This allows the function to access and manipulate the elements of the array or the data pointed to by the pointer.

What is recursion in programming? Provide an example of a problem that can be solved using recursion.

Recursion is a programming technique where a function calls itself to solve a problem. An example problem that can be solved using recursion is finding the factorial of a number or generating the Fibonacci series.

Study Notes

Functions in C Programming

There are two types of functions in C programming: Library Functions and User-Defined Functions
- Library Functions: pre-defined functions included in C libraries, e.g., printf(), scanf(), sqrt()
- User-Defined Functions: created by the programmer to perform specific tasks

Purpose of Functions in Programming

The primary purpose of a function in programming is to:
- Organize code into smaller, reusable blocks
- Reduce code duplication
- Improve code readability and maintainability
- Enhance program modularity

Parameter Passing Techniques in C

There are two parameter passing techniques in C programming:
- Call by Value: a copy of the actual argument is passed to the function; changes made to the copy do not affect the original argument
- Call by Reference: the memory address of the actual argument is passed to the function; changes made to the argument in the function affect the original argument

Passing Pointers and Arrays to Functions in C

Pointers: when a pointer is passed to a function, the function receives a copy of the pointer, which points to the same memory location as the original pointer
Arrays: when an array is passed to a function, the function receives a pointer to the first element of the array; the array's elements can be modified within the function

Recursion in Programming

Recursion: a programming technique where a function calls itself repeatedly until it reaches a base case that stops the recursion
Example: calculating the factorial of a number using recursion:
- factorial(n) = n * factorial(n-1) until n = 0, where factorial(0) = 1
- This recursive function calls itself with decreasing values of n until it reaches the base case (n = 0)