C - Passing Array to Function

We can create functions that receives array as argument. To pass array in function, we need to write the array name in the function call.

There are 3 ways to declare function that receives array as argument.

1. First way:

return_type function_name(datatype arrayname[]);
Declaring blank subscript notation [] is the widely used technique.

2. Second way:

return_type function_name(datatype arrayname[SIZE]);
We can define size in subscript notation [].

3. Third way:

return_type function_name(datatype *arrayname);
You can also use the concept of pointer. In pointer chapter, we will learn about it.

Example 1: Passing array to function.

int minarray(int arr[], int size)
{
    int min=arr[0], i=0;
    for(i=1;i<size;i++)
    {
        if(min>arr[i])
        {
            min=arr[i];
        }
    }//end of for
    return min;
}//end of function

void main()
{    
    int i=0, min=0;  
    int numbers[]={4,5,7,3,8,9}; //declaration of array
    clrscr();    
    min=minarray(numbers,6); //passing array with size
    printf("Minimum number is %d \n",min);
    getch();
}

Example 2: WAP for passing Array Elements to function argument.

void display(int n);
void main()
{
    int i;
	int a[] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
    clrscr();
    for(i=0; i<5; i++)
	{
        display(a[i]);
	}
    getch();
}
void display(int n)
{
    printf(" %d ", n);
}

Example 3: WAP for passing 2D Array to function argument.

Example 4: WAP for passing string to function argument.

void display(char []);
void main()
{
    char s[]="Programming";
    clrscr();
    display(s);
    getch();
}
void display(char str[])
{
    puts(str);
}

Example 5: WAP for passing array of string to function argument.

void display(char [][10]);
void main()
{
    char s[][10] = {"C", "C++", "Java", "Python", "PHP"};
    clrscr();
    display(s);
    getch();
}
void display(char str[][10])
{
    int i;
	printf("Popular Computer Languages are:");
	for(i=0;i<4;i++)
	{
        puts(str[i]);
	}
}

Exercise on Array to function

1. WAP to return array using function.
2. WAP to find length of string using function (passing string).