Passing arrays to functions in C

Passing arrays to functions:

One dimensional array :

To pass a one dimensional array to a called function, it is sufficient to list the name of the array(without any subscript)  and the size of the array as argument.

 For example

int  arry[10],n;  /*array declaration*/

                   ----

                   ----

                     largest(arry, n); /* function call st. - passing array as actual argument*/

                       

The call function call largest (arry, n) , Will pass the whole array arry to the called function. The called function expecting this call must be approximately defined.

The largest function header might look like

The pair of brackets informs the compiler that the arguments array is an array of numbers. It is not necessary to specify the size of the array here.

Main()

{

  int largest (float arry[], int n);

  int value[4]={12, 25, 2, 67};

  printf(“%d\n”,largest(value,4));

}

int largest(int arry[],int n)

{

  int i;

  int max;

  max=a[0];

  for(i=1;i<n;i++)

    if(max<a[i])

    max=a[i];

return(max);

}

Consider a problem of finding the largest value in an array of elements.

When the function call largest( value,4) is made, the values of all elements of array value become the corresponding elements of array a in the called function. The largest function finds the largest value in the array and returns the result to the main.

By passing the array name, we are infact, passing the address of the array to the called function. The array in the called function now refers to the  same array stored in the memory that is created from the main. Therefore, any changes made in the array in the called function will be reflected in the original array of the main.

Passing address of parameters to the functions is referred to as pass by address.