What is prototyping in c plus plus?

Answer 1

A prototype in C++, as well as in C, is a declaration of a function and its parameters, including the types of the function and parameters. It does not actually create (define) the code for the function - it only identifies (declares) it to the compiler.

It is used to enforce type checking for functions and parameters, and it is used to declare the function for use in other code prior to the function actually being defined, such as in a different compilation unit or library. Headers, for instance, contain mostly prototypes.

Answer 2

Prototyping is the declaration of a function, its type, and the type and number of its arguments. The compiler uses the prototype to enforce type checking for the arguments of a function. In the case of C++, the compiler can also use the prototype to choose between two functions of the same name, differing in return value or type/number of arguments.

There are two ways to prototype. 1.) You can declare and define a function before you use it. That is automatic prototyping. 2.) You can declare a function before you use it and then define it later. That is explicit prototyping.

// example for automatic

int myfunction (int a) { // declaration and definition

return a;

}

int main (int argc, char *argv[]) {

int b = myfunction(1); // use

return 0;

}

//example for explicit

int myfunction (int a); // declaration

int main (int argc, char *argv[]) {

int b = myfunction(1); // use

return 0;

}

int myfunction (int a) { // definition

return a;

}

Answer 3

Lets start it with level zero ok...

now take printf() function.

the header file (.h file) defines it is defined as

prototype/signature : prinf()

body :body

function call : how the function is called.

now suppose i want to create a function, say add() to add to numbers,

the source file will look like :

#include /*header file included*/

#int add (int,int) /* prototype */

main() /*the calling function*/

{

int a,b; /*variables declared*/

printf("Enter two numbers ");

printf("%d%d",&a,&b);

printf("\n Addition is %d",add(a,b));

} /*main() -the calling function ends here*/

{ /*body or definition for add() function starts here*/

int add (int x,int y); /*this defines that x and y should be int*/

return x+y;

}

here main() is the calling function and add() is the called function

hope it will help you ;-)

Answer 4

There is no keyword 'prototype' in the C Programming language itself. The term "function prototype" is defined in the C language specification as "a declaration of a function that declares the types of its parameters".