Functions in C: Key Concepts and Examples

This lecture covers the fundamental concepts of functions in the C programming language. It begins by explaining the importance of functions for code reusability and clarity, emphasizing the principle of avoiding code duplication. The instructor introduces the definition of a function, detailing its components such as the function name, body, arguments, return type, and return value. Examples of function prototypes and definitions are provided, illustrating how to declare and implement functions in C. The lecture also discusses the concept of passing arguments to functions, distinguishing between pass-by-value and pass-by-reference, and how to simulate pass-by-reference using pointers. Additionally, the instructor addresses the topic of function overloading, clarifying that C does not support this feature but introduces the concept of generic macros in C11 as a workaround. The lecture concludes with practical examples demonstrating the implementation of functions, including those without return values and the use of prototypes, reinforcing the importance of proper function design in programming.