• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Computer Notes

Library
    • Computer Fundamental
    • Computer Memory
    • DBMS Tutorial
    • Operating System
    • Computer Networking
    • C Programming
    • C++ Programming
    • Java Programming
    • C# Programming
    • SQL Tutorial
    • Management Tutorial
    • Computer Graphics
    • Compiler Design
    • Style Sheet
    • JavaScript Tutorial
    • Html Tutorial
    • Wordpress Tutorial
    • Python Tutorial
    • PHP Tutorial
    • JSP Tutorial
    • AngularJS Tutorial
    • Data Structures
    • E Commerce Tutorial
    • Visual Basic
    • Structs2 Tutorial
    • Digital Electronics
    • Internet Terms
    • Servlet Tutorial
    • Software Engineering
    • Interviews Questions
    • Basic Terms
    • Troubleshooting
Menu

Header Right

Home » C » Array » Arrays as Function Parameters in C
Next →
← Prev

Arrays as Function Parameters in C

By Dinesh Thakur

We can pass an array (one, two or multidimensional) as an argument to a function. The C language allows us to define functions that have one or more arrays as parameters. These parameters can be of different types and sizes. Moreover, we can mix scalar and array parameters. A function that uses a single one-dimensional array as a parameter can be defined as shown below.

ret_type func_name ( arr_type arr_name [ ]) {
.........
}

where parameter arr_name is a one-dimensional array of type arr_type. Note that the array size is not required in the above definition and is usually omitted. A call to this function takes the following form:

func_name ( arr )

where arr is a one-dimensional array. Although, we can pass arrays of different sizes to this function, the function body will process a fixed number of elements from these arrays. We can generalize this function to process an array of any size by including another function parameter that specifies the number of elements to be processed from the array as:

ret_type func_name ( arr_type arr_name [ ] , int n ) {
.........
}

Such a function usually processes n elements in the beginning of the array (i. e., elements at positions 0 to n – 1). If we wish to process an arbitrary range of elements, we can specify the range using two function parameters, say first and last.

Recall that call by value is the default mechanism for passing parameters in C language. When a function is called, the argument specified in the function call is copied to the corresponding function parameter specified in the function definition. The overhead of this copy operation would be substantial when an array of moderate to large size is being passed to a function. Hence, C language uses the call by reference mechanism to pass arrays efficiently. In this method, only the starting address of array argument (address of element 0) is passed to a called function.

The use of pass by reference makes an array parameter an input-output parameter. When the function modifies the elements of a parameter array, it actually modifies the elements of an argument array in the called function. Thus, the modified array is available in the calling function. This ability is extremely useful when we want to return the modified array to the calling function, e. g., read an array using a function, sort a given array, etc.

Finally, note that C language does not permit an array to be specified as a return type for a function.

Illustrates passing of an array to a function

#include<stdio.h>
double Average(int Array[10]); //function prototype
int main() {
 int Dal[]= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}; //array
 clrscr();
 printf("Average of Array Element is : %5.3f\n",Average (Dal));
 return 0;
}
double Average (int AR [10]) { // definition of function
 int i;
 double Sum =0;
 for( i =0; i<10; i++)
 Sum +=AR[i];
 return Sum/10;
}

You’ll also like:

  1. C Program passing of more than one arrays to a function
  2. Arrays Of Arrays with Varying Length in Java
  3. const Parameters in C
  4. Write A C++ Program For Constructor With Two Parameters.
  5. How to Passing Parameters to Applets.
Next →
← Prev
Like/Subscribe us for latest updates     

About Dinesh Thakur
Dinesh ThakurDinesh Thakur holds an B.C.A, MCDBA, MCSD certifications. Dinesh authors the hugely popular Computer Notes blog. Where he writes how-to guides around Computer fundamental , computer software, Computer programming, and web apps.

Dinesh Thakur is a Freelance Writer who helps different clients from all over the globe. Dinesh has written over 500+ blogs, 30+ eBooks, and 10000+ Posts for all types of clients.


For any type of query or something that you think is missing, please feel free to Contact us.


Primary Sidebar

C Programming

C Programming Tutorials

  • C - History
  • C - Anatomy
  • C - Constants
  • C - Identifiers
  • C - Data Types
  • C - Libraries File
  • C - Header Files
  • C - Basic Language
  • C - Data Types Sizes
  • C - Header Files Importance
  • C - Escape Sequences
  • C - Main() Purpose
  • C - Program Procedure
  • C - Control Statements
  • C - Enumeration Constant
  • C - Add numbers
  • C - Return Statement
  • C - Avoid Goto
  • C - Command Line Arguments
  • C - Switch Case
  • C - Switch Case Limitations
  • C - getchar() and putchar()
  • C - Iteration Statements
  • C - Pass by Value and Reference
  • C - Structures and Unions
  • C - Structure
  • C - Dynamic Memory
  • C - Fgets and Fputs Functions
  • C - Gets() and Puts() Functions
  • C - Armstrong Number
  • C - Storage Classes
  • C - Fibonacci Series
  • C - Precision Setting
  • C - const Parameters

C - Variable & It's Type

  • C - Variables
  • C - Variable Lifetime
  • C - Static Variable
  • C - Register Variable
  • C - Global Variables
  • C - Auto Variables
  • C - Local Variables

C - Operator & Expressions

  • C - Operator
  • C - Boolean Operators
  • C - Bitwise Operator
  • C - Arithmetic Operators
  • C - Modulus Operator
  • C - Ternary Operator
  • C - Expressions
  • C - Arithmetic Expressions

C - Array

  • C - Arrays
  • C - Array Types
  • C - Array Characteristics
  • C - Static Arrays
  • C - Global Arrays
  • C - 3D Arrays
  • C - Dynamic Arrays
  • C - Pointer to 3D Arrays
  • C - Array Elements Hold
  • C - Arrays as Function Parameters
  • C - Accessing Matrix Elements
  • C - File Handling
  • C - Matrix Multiplication
  • C - Dynamic Memory Allocation

C - Searching & Sorting

  • C - Data Structures
  • C - Linear Search
  • C - Bubble Sort
  • C - Merge Sort
  • C - Linked List
  • C - Insertion Sort
  • C - Binary Search
  • C - Selection Sort
  • C - Quick Sort

C - Functions

  • C - Functions
  • C - Functions Advantages
  • C - Void Functions
  • C - Function Call
  • C - Default Return Value
  • C - String functions

C - Pointer

  • C - Pointers
  • C - Type Casting Of Pointers
  • C - Pointer Advantages
  • C - Pointers Initialization
  • C - Vectors and Pointers

C - Differences

  • C - C Vs C++
  • C - Formal Args. Vs Actual Args.
  • C - Keywords Vs Identifiers
  • C - Strings Vs Character Arrays
  • C - Address Vs Dereference Operator
  • C - Goto Vs longjmp
  • C - Declaring Vs Defining Variable
  • C - String Vs Array
  • C - Call by Value Vs Reference
  • C - Structure Vs Union
  • C - For Vs While loops
  • C - Compiler Vs Interpreter

C - Programs

  • C Program Standard Deviation
  • C Program Calculate Tax
  • C Program Sum Series
  • C Program Merge Arrays
  • C Program Euclid’s Algorithm
  • C Program Print Weekdays
  • C Program Sum of Digits
  • C Program Print a list
  • C Program Print Pythagorean
  • C Program Quiz program
  • C Program Display Table
  • C Program Print Comma-Separated
  • C Program Prints Prime Numbers
  • C Program for Print Integer
  • C Program Count Number
  • C Program Print Color Name
  • C Program Print Odd Numbers
  • C Program Calculate area
  • C Program for a Menu
  • C Program Add Two Vectors
  • C Program Array Addresses
  • C Program Division by Zero Error
  • C Program Compare two Dates
  • C Program Tower of Hanoi
  • C Program return 3 Numbers
  • C Program for Prime Numbers
  • C Program for Factorial
  • C Program for Palindrome

Other Links

  • C Programming - PDF Version

Footer

Basic Course

  • Computer Fundamental
  • Computer Networking
  • Operating System
  • Database System
  • Computer Graphics
  • Management System
  • Software Engineering
  • Digital Electronics
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Compiler Design
  • Troubleshooting

Programming

  • Java Programming
  • Structured Query (SQL)
  • C Programming
  • C++ Programming
  • Visual Basic
  • Data Structures
  • Struts 2
  • Java Servlet
  • C# Programming
  • Basic Terms
  • Interviews

World Wide Web

  • Internet
  • Java Script
  • HTML Language
  • Cascading Style Sheet
  • Java Server Pages
  • Wordpress
  • PHP
  • Python Tutorial
  • AngularJS
  • Troubleshooting

 About Us |  Contact Us |  FAQ

Dinesh Thakur is a Technology Columinist and founder of Computer Notes.

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.