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In C programming, there are two ways to pass arguments to a function: call by value and call by reference. Understanding the differences between these two methods is important because it affects how values are passed between functions and how changes made to these values are reflected in the calling function.
Call by value is the default method for passing arguments in C. When you pass an argument by value, a copy of the value is made, and this copy is used by the function. Any changes made to this copy within the function will not affect the original value in the calling function. This means that if you pass a variable to a function by value, the function will not be able to change the original value of that variable.
Call by reference is a method for passing arguments to a function in which the address of a variable is passed instead of its value. This means that the function has direct access to the original variable, and any changes made to this variable within the function will be reflected in the calling function.
It’s important to choose the right method of passing arguments based on your specific needs. If you only need to read the values of the variables within the function, you should use call by value. However, if you need to make changes to the variables within the function, and have those changes reflected in the calling function, you should use call by reference.
In summary, call by value and call by reference are two important concepts in C programming that you should understand when writing functions. Understanding the differences between these two methods will help you write more organized, efficient, and effective code, and will help you become a better C programmer.
C Programming for Beginners – Chapter 15 : Call by value VS Call by reference
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