Chapter 7: Problem 9

Is an array passed to a function by value or by reference?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Based on the given step by step solution, the short answer would be: In programming, arrays are typically passed to functions by reference rather than by value. This means that changes within the function will directly modify the original array. For example, in C++, when an array is passed to a function, it's the memory address that is sent; thus, any modifications done to the array within the function will impact the original array. Therefore, care should be taken when manipulating arrays within functions to avoid unintentional changes to the original array.

Step by step solution

Understanding the difference between passing by value and passing by reference

When passing variables to a function, there are two methods: passing by value and passing by reference. When passing by value, a copy of the variable is given to the function, and changes made within the function do not affect the original variable. On the other hand, when passing by reference, the function receives a reference (memory address) of the original variable, allowing the function to modify the original variable directly.

Analyzing how arrays are passed in functions

In most programming languages, like C and C++, arrays are passed to functions by reference. This means that when an array is passed to a function, its memory address is sent, and any changes made to the array within the function will modify the original array. Thus, it is essential to be cautious when modifying arrays within functions.

Example of passing an array by reference in C++ code

To illustrate that arrays are passed by reference, let's consider the following C++ code: ```c++ #include using namespace std; void modifyArray(int arr[], int size){ for(int i = 0; i < size; i++){ arr[i] *= 2; } } int main(){ int myArray[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; int size = sizeof(myArray)/sizeof(myArray[0]); modifyArray(myArray, size); for(int i = 0; i < size; i++){ cout << myArray[i] << " "; } return 0; } ``` In the code above, `modifyArray()` function takes an array as an input and multiplies each element by 2. After the function is called, the modified array is printed, and the output will be `2 4 6 8 10` illustrating that the original array `myArray` was modified within the `modifyArray()` function. This is possible because the array is passed by reference and not by value.

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Is an array passed to a function by value or by reference?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding the difference between passing by value and passing by reference

Analyzing how arrays are passed in functions

Example of passing an array by reference in C++ code

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