Functions

Question 1

What is a function in C? What are its benefits?

Answer 1

A self-contained block of statements that performs a specific task. Benefits include modularity and code reusability.

Question 2

Differentiate between Function Declaration, Definition, and Call.

Answer 2

Declaration (Prototype): Tells the compiler about the function’s signature (name, return type, parameters).

Definition: Contains the actual code (body) that performs the function’s task.

Call: Invoking a function to execute its code.

Question 3

Explain the difference in scope and lifetime between local and global variables.

Answer 3

Local Variables: Declared inside a function/block; accessible only within that block; created on entry, destroyed on exit.

Global Variables: Declared outside all functions; accessible from anywhere in the program; exist throughout program execution.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the static storage class?

Answer 4

For local variables, static makes their values persist between function calls and initializes them to zero by default. For global variables/functions, it restricts their visibility to the current file.

Question 5

What is a recursive function? What is a crucial part of every recursive function?

Answer 5

A function that calls itself to solve a problem. A crucial part is the base case, which stops the recursion.

Question 6

When might recursion be preferred over iteration, and vice-versa?

Answer 6

Recursion: Often more concise for problems with recursive structures (e.g., tree traversals, Tower of Hanoi). Can use more memory and be slower due to function call overhead.

Iteration: Generally more efficient in terms of memory and time.