Hello guys... i have a doubt over the topic functions where we pass value..
why do we use another variable while calling a function .. i mean if we have declared variable x in main() and we use the variable y in function but the role is same..
i dont understand this concept?
i think , you understood wat am trying to say?
Because functions can be called from more than one place in a program. So the variable with which it is called could be different in each case. Inside the function it's consistent.
Yep, I think I get your meaning...
You don't *have* to use a different variable name. However, the X inside the function is going to be a copy of the X you declared in main... once inside the function changing the value of X will not change the value of the X in main.
Most often when naming functions and parameters I try to be descriptive of what's going on and will choose variable names that describe the data ...
Don't forget some functions are called from dozens of places in a program so the use of descriptive names becomes very helpful.Code:int InitNewFile( char* Filename, int InitialSize);
But the values does change when we pass the parameters by reference, i mean by calling the address of the variable..isnt it?
Yes, if you pass in a pointer (which is still call by value) you can "dereference" the pointer to operate on the data from inside the function. It works like this...Originally Posted by vijayshankar
Code:void foo(int x) { x = x - 2; } // x in main is NOT changed void bar(int *x) { *x = *x - 2; } // x in main is changed int main (void) int x; foo(x) bar(&x); }
Last edited by CommonTater; 02-18-2011 at 08:01 AM.
If we pass an address and if the function makes a change to the value pointed to by that address. But the name of the address outside the function is still independent of the names used within the function. The function is generic enough to operate on whatever parameter name is passed. The function could have been written by someone else... with no knowledge of what variable names will be passed to it. That's the point of 'formal' vs. 'actual' parameters.
