Functions in C++

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Function parameters

Functions in C++ Function parameters

Parameters can be passed to functions in C++ by value, by pointer and by reference.

Normal variables, i.e. no pointer variables, are passed to the function as function parameters by value. This means that during the execution of a function a copy of the variable is created on the stack of the processor.

In C++ there is also the possibility that the parameter passing is done by pointer. In this case the addresses of the variables, and not the variable itself, are passed to the function.

C++ has introduced another form of parameter passing, the passing by reference. This is identified by the fact that the function parameter is preceded by a &, which must not be confused with the address operator & in this context.

When using C++, parameter passing by reference is always preferable to passing by pointer.

Passing by Value

Code Explanation

LineDescription
4Function header of the add() function with input parameters a and b of type integer
5Create variable named result of type integer
6Result is assigned the sum of a and b
7Returns the variable result
10main() function of type integer
11Calls the add() function with the parameters 1 and 3 in an output stream and thus outputs the sum of the two numbers
12Calls the add() function with the parameters 5 and 6 in an output stream and thus outputs the sum of the two numbers
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

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

int main() {
    cout << add(1, 3) << endl;
    cout << add(5, 6) << endl;
}
Output
4
11

Passing by Pointer

Code Explanation

LineDescription
4Function header of the add() function with the input parameters pointer to a (*a) and pointer to b (*b) of type integer. Thus the address of the variable is accessed.
5Create variable named result of type integer
6Result is assigned the sum of *a and *b
7Returns the variable result
10main() function of type integer
11Declares and initializes the variable a with the value 1, b with the value 3, and c with the value 5
12Calls the add() function with the parameters &a and &b in an output stream, thus outputting the sum of the two numbers. Due to the address operator, the memory addresses where the variable values are stored are passed
13Calls the add() function with the parameters &a and &c in an output stream, thus outputting the sum of the two numbers. Due to the address operator, the memory addresses where the variable values are stored are passed
#include &lt;iostream&gt;
using namespace std;

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

int main() {
    int a = 1, b = 3, c = 5;
    cout << add(&a, &b) << endl;
    cout << add(&a, &c) << endl;
}
Output
4
6

Passing by Reference

#include &lt;iostream&gt;
using namespace std;

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

int main() {
    int a = 4, b = 6, c = 12;
    cout << add(a, b) << endl;
    cout << add(a, c) << endl;
}
Output
10
16
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