05 Functions Free Online FlashCards

What does a C++ function declaration specify?

A function declaration, or prototype, tells the compiler the function’s name, return type, and parameter types without providing its body.

What is a function definition?

A function definition supplies the complete implementation, including the function body and its statements.

How do parameters differ from arguments?

A parameter is a variable in a function declaration or definition; an argument is the actual value supplied when the function is called.

What happens when an argument is passed by value?

By-value parameters receive copies, so changing the parameter inside the function does not change the caller’s original variable.

What can a reference parameter do?

A reference parameter, such as int& value, can modify the caller’s variable directly.

Why use a const reference parameter?

A const reference avoids copying while preventing the function from modifying the referenced argument.

What does return do in a C++ function?

The return statement ends a function and can send a value back to its caller. A void function may use return; only to exit early.

What does void mean as a function return type?

A function with return type void does not return a value to its caller.

What happens during a function call?

When called, a function’s parameters are initialized from the arguments, its body executes, and control returns to the statement after the call.

What determines a local variable’s scope?

A local variable can be used from its declaration through the end of its enclosing block; it is unavailable outside that scope.

Why can a local variable reset on every call?

Each ordinary function call creates independent local variables, so a local count initialized to zero prints 1 on every call after incrementing.

What makes two C++ functions overloads?

Function overloading permits the same name for functions whose parameter lists differ in number, types, or type order.