C Programming Introduction
Part II
Learning Objectives
Learn how to use C functions
Learn how to use C arrays
Understand what a pointer is and how to use it
Understand how to open a file and write to it.
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
C Functions
Generally, you pass variables to a function, it
does some work, and returns a variable.
double Sqrt(double val) – a function that takes a
value and returns its square root.
double pow(double v1, double v2) – a function
that raises v1 to the power v2.
Sometimes you don’t need or want a return
value (such as the function to close a file).
Sometimes you don’t need to pass anything to
the function or get anything back (such as a
function to clear the monitor of any data).
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
Declaring C Functions
All functions should be declared at the
top of the program (before they are
used).
int count(void);
int openFile(char *fileName);
The declaration tells the compiler how
the function should be used -- what it
should take and what it should return.
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
Defining Functions
The function is defined in the body of the c-file,
outside of any other functions.
The definition explains what the function does
with the information passed in and how it
determines the information to return.
int factorial(int inVal) { /* start of function definition */
int cntr, returnVal = 1; /*declaration of local variables
*/
for (cntr = 2; cntr <= inVal; cntr++) /* note use of
“inVal” */
returnVal = returnVal*cntr;
return returnVal; /* function will return this value */
} /* end of function definition */
Faculty of IT, AFTC
edp@aftcmail
Using Functions
To use a function, just pass variables or
arguments in the correct order.
You can use the return value to set
another variable.
int main(int argc, void **argv) {
int a = 4, b;
b = factorial(a);
b = factorial(6);
}
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
C Arrays
C uses square brackets for defining and using arrays.
double F[6]; declares a six-dimensional vector.
The six values in f are ordered starting from 0.
F[0] = 3; /*set 1st element to 3. */
F[3] = 14.1234; /* set 4th element to 14 … */
F[6] = 234.341; /* error, this would be the 7th
element in a six-dimensional vector */
You can pass element values to functions
F[4] = sqrt (F[3]);
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
Pointers
C allows the programmer to access
specific locations in memory with
pointers.
Pointers user two operators:
& the “address of” operator
* the “indirection” or “dereferencing”
operator
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
How Pointers Work
Instead of referring to a variable directly,
pointers provide the location where the
variable exists in memory.
This is useful when you want to change a
variable in memory within a function.
Normally a function copies its arguments and
changes to the passed arguments to not affect the
main program.
If you pass a pointer, then when you change the
values at the address pointed to, the changes DO
affect the main program.
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
How to Use Them
Declare a pointer to a float:
float *floatPtr;
Declare a pointer to a double;
double *dblPtr;
Set the pointer to a variable.
floatPtr = &myFloatVariable;
Set the value in the pointer
*floatPtr = 6;
Use the value in a pointer
printf(“Pointer value is %f\n”, *floatPtr);
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
File Access
FILE *fptr; /* pointer to a file structure */
fptr = fopen(“filename”, “r+”);
fprintf(“Print this %f, baby\n”, val);
fscanf(“%f”, &val); /* reads a value */
fclose(fptr);
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
Learning Objectives
Learn how to use C functions
Learn how to use C arrays
Understand what a pointer is and how to use it
Understand how to open a file and write to it.
edp@aftcmail
Faculty of IT, AFTC
