CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++
John Smith
John Smith

Reputation: 11

Are C++ function declarations optional?

I just noticed something when creating functions. In the code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int add(int a, int b = 20)
{
    int r;
    r = a + b;
    return (r);
}

int main()
{
    int result;
    result = add(20);
    cout<<result;

    return 0;
}

it will work because the function being called is on top of the caller, but if I put the function add() below the calling function in main() it won't work.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    int result;
    result = add(20);
    cout<<result;

    return 0;
}

int add(int a, int b = 20)
{
    int r;
    r = a + b;
    return (r);
}

and the compiler will tell me that the identifier add() cannot be found. so why do we declare functions anyway? like this:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int add(int a, int b = 20);

int main()
{
    int result;
    result = add(20);
    cout<<result;

    return 0;
}

int add(int a, int b)
{
    int r;
    r = a + b;
    return (r);
}

Upvotes: 0

Views: 319

Answers (4)

Jayesh Vyas
Jayesh Vyas

Reputation: 1351

A function declaration tells the compiler about a function's name, return type, and parameters. A function definition provides the actual body of the function.

if the function definition appears after the function call then prototype is mandatory. because it tells the compiler to how to respond the function when it is called.

check the following example.

/* C++ Function Prototype and C++ Function Definition */

#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>

int add(int, int);         // function prototype

void main()
{
    clrscr();
    int a, b;
    cout<<"Enter any two number: ";
    cin>>a>>b;
    cout<<"\nSummation = "<<add(a, b);
    getch();
}

int add(int x, int y)     // function definition
{
    int res;
    res = x + y;
    return res;
}

and if the function definition is made before the function call then it is not mandatory to declare function prototype.

consider example.

/* C++ Function Prototype and C++ Function Definition */

#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>

int add(int x, int y)     // function definition
{
    int res;
    res = x + y;
    return res;
}

void main()
{
    clrscr();
    int a, b;
    cout<<"Enter any two number: ";
    cin>>a>>b;
    cout<<"\nSummation = "<<add(a, b);
    getch();
}

Upvotes: 0

msc
msc

Reputation: 34598

No.

If the function definition appears before the function call, then prototype is not mandatory. Otherwise function prototype is necessary to let compiler know how to respond to a function when it is called.

Upvotes: 0

Bathsheba
Bathsheba

Reputation: 234685

All functions need to be declared before they are used.

You can do that by either (1) writing a declaration, or (2) writing a definition.

Relying solely on (2) can be tempting but then you are bound to order your program in a particular way, and is occasionally impossible. For example, the following will not compile unless the comment is removed.

   //void bar(int);

    void foo(int n)
    {
        if (!n){
            bar(n);
        }
    }

    void bar(int n)
        if (n){
            foo(n);
        }
    }

    int main()
    {
        foo(1);
    }

Upvotes: 7

user1196549
user1196549

Reputation:

A definition is implicitly a declaration. And a declaration must come ahead of the use.

Upvotes: 9

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