function automatically returns the value

**Richard Heathfield** · Nov 23 '05, 05:35 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

chellappa said:
[color=blue]
> hi All,
> function automatically returns the value,am not used "return"
> i am using Linux -gcc complier
> please tell me.... what is problem...
>
> source
> =====
> #include <stdio.h>
> main()
> {
> int a,b,c,sum;
> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
> }
> calsum(x,y,z)
> int x,y,z;
> {
> int d;
> d=x+y+z;
> }
> output
> =====
> ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :
> 23
> 23
> 23
> sum = 69[/color]

foo@bar:~/scratch> ./foo
ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :
TWENTY-THREE TWENTY-THREE TWENTY-THREE
sum = 45768

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999

http://www.cpax.org.uk

email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

**Mike Wahler** · Nov 23 '05, 05:45 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

"chellappa" <N.Chellappa@gm ail.com> wrote in message
news:1132759896 .672034.17140@g 47g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...[color=blue]
> hi All,
> function[/color]
[color=blue]
> automatically[/color]

accidentally
[color=blue]
> returns the value,am not used "return"
> i am using Linux -gcc complier[/color]

Then you're using a *very old* version, or have
it configured to ignore serious errors, or use
some very strange extension(s).
[color=blue]
> please tell me.... what is problem...[/color]

Undefined behavior.
[color=blue]
> source
> =====
> #include <stdio.h>
> main()
> {
> int a,b,c,sum;
> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
> }
> calsum(x,y,z)
> int x,y,z;[/color]

This is archaic syntax, not valid standard C.

calsum(int x, int y, int z) // C89

int calsum(int x, int y, int z) // C99
[color=blue]
> {
> int d;
> d=x+y+z;
> }[/color]

Undefined behavior. return statement required.

What probably happened for you was that the value of
'd' just accidentally happened to get stored in a
register which was also accessed by the calling
function. The standard C language can't be used
to explain the behavior because you don't have
a standard C program. If you want to inquire
about the quirks of gcc, see a gcc group.
[color=blue]
> output
> =====
> ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :
> 23
> 23
> 23
> sum = 69[/color]

-Mike

**Thad Smith** · Nov 23 '05, 05:45 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

chellappa wrote:[color=blue]
>
> hi All,
> function automatically returns the value,am not used "return"
> i am using Linux -gcc complier
> please tell me.... what is problem...
>
> source
> =====
> #include <stdio.h>
> main()
> {
> int a,b,c,sum;
> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
> }
> calsum(x,y,z)
> int x,y,z;
> {
> int d;
> d=x+y+z;
> }
> output
> =====
> ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :
> 23
> 23
> 23
> sum = 69[/color]

The problem is that your program works by accident, since calsum does
not explicitly return a value. On another implementation it may not.
In general, when your code doesn't conform to the standard (and
implementation specifications) you get undefined behavior. That
occurs with your program. It is particularly nasty because it may
work in some cases, or implementations , and not others.

A powerful technique for avoiding those cases is to enable all
warnings and heed them. You should have gotten appropriate warnings
for your code.

--
Thad

**Christopher Benson-Manica** · Nov 23 '05, 05:55 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

Mike Wahler <mkwahler@mkwah ler.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Then you're using a *very old* version, or have
> it configured to ignore serious errors, or use
> some very strange extension(s).[/color]

Or he's getting better at trolling...

--
Christopher Benson-Manica | I *should* know what I'm talking about - if I
ataru(at)cybers pace.org | don't, I need to know. Flames welcome.

**Mike Wahler** · Nov 23 '05, 05:55 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

"Richard Heathfield" <invalid@invali d.invalid> wrote in message
news:dm24l5$rpd $2@nwrdmz03.dmz .ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...[color=blue]
> chellappa said:
>[color=green]
>> hi All,
>> function automatically returns the value,am not used "return"
>> i am using Linux -gcc complier
>> please tell me.... what is problem...
>>
>> source
>> =====
>> #include <stdio.h>
>> main()
>> {
>> int a,b,c,sum;
>> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
>> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
>> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
>> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
>> }
>> calsum(x,y,z)
>> int x,y,z;
>> {
>> int d;
>> d=x+y+z;
>> }
>> output
>> =====
>> ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :
>> 23
>> 23
>> 23
>> sum = 69[/color]
>
> foo@bar:~/scratch> ./foo
> ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :
> TWENTY-THREE TWENTY-THREE TWENTY-THREE
> sum = 45768[/color]

I get output of "ELEVENTY JILLION AND SIX", followed by my
speakers emitting the faint sound of coyotes howling
in the distance. And my nose is beginning to itch.
Maybe th%)v^ *H)^_()&./7[NO CARRIER]

**Keith Thompson** · Nov 23 '05, 06:25 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

"Mike Wahler" <mkwahler@mkwah ler.net> writes:[color=blue]
> "chellappa" <N.Chellappa@gm ail.com> wrote in message
> news:1132759896 .672034.17140@g 47g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...[/color]
[...][color=blue][color=green]
>> source
>> =====
>> #include <stdio.h>
>> main()
>> {
>> int a,b,c,sum;
>> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
>> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
>> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
>> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
>> }
>> calsum(x,y,z)
>> int x,y,z;[/color]
>
> This is archaic syntax, not valid standard C.[/color]

Yes, it's archaic, but it's still legal (except that C99 forbids
implicit int). But of course there's no good reason not to use
prototypes.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keit h) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
San Diego Supercomputer Center <*> <http://users.sdsc.edu/~kst>
We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this.

**Tatu Portin** · Nov 23 '05, 10:15 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

chellappa wrote:
[color=blue]
> hi All,
> function automatically returns the value,am not used "return"
> i am using Linux -gcc complier
> please tell me.... what is problem...
>[/color]

#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
int a,b,c,sum;
printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
sum=calsum(a,b, c);
printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
}

calsum(x,y,z)
int x,y,z;
{
int d;
d=x+y+z;
}

In C, functions that have not defined return value,
do return value of int.
So, following prototypes are identical:

int func (int x, char b);

func (int x, char b);

If you want to declare a function without return value,
you use void:

/* A function that doesn't return a value. */
void func (int x, char b);

**Keith Thompson** · Nov 23 '05, 11:05 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

Tatu Portin <axel86@mbnet.f i> writes:[color=blue]
> chellappa wrote:[color=green]
>> hi All,
>> function automatically returns the value,am not used "return"
>> i am using Linux -gcc complier
>> please tell me.... what is problem...
>>[/color]
>
> #include <stdio.h>
> main()
> {
> int a,b,c,sum;
> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
> }
>
> calsum(x,y,z)
> int x,y,z;
> {
> int d;
> d=x+y+z;
> }
>
> In C, functions that have not defined return value,
> do return value of int.
> So, following prototypes are identical:
>
> int func (int x, char b);
>
> func (int x, char b);[/color]

That's true in C90, but not in C99 -- and it's a bad idea in either.
[color=blue]
> If you want to declare a function without return value,
> you use void:
>
> /* A function that doesn't return a value. */
> void func (int x, char b);[/color]

Yes, of course, but since chellappa was assigning the result of the
function call to a variable, he obviously wanted the calsum() function
to return a value. The fix is not to change the function so it
returns void; the fix is to add a return statement (and to use proper
prototypes rather than the archaic, but still legal, pre-ANSI function
declarations, and to fix a few other problems).

The original question was why the incorrect code was still "working"
(i.e., the value of x+y+z was assigned to sum even though there was no
return statement). The general answer is that the program invokes
undefined behavior, and the observed behavior is as legitimate as any
other behavior. The specific answer probably has to do with how the
particular compiler uses CPU registers, but quite frankly there's
little reason to care.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keit h) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
San Diego Supercomputer Center <*> <http://users.sdsc.edu/~kst>
We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this.

**Peter Nilsson** · Nov 23 '05, 11:15 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

Mike Wahler wrote:[color=blue]
> "chellappa" <N.Chellappa@gm ail.com> wrote in message[color=green]
> > #include <stdio.h>
> > main()
> > {
> > ...
> > sum=calsum(a,b, c);
> > ...
> > }
> > calsum(x,y,z)
> > int x,y,z;[/color]
>
> This is archaic syntax, not valid standard C.[/color]

As others have stated, it's valid C89.
[color=blue]
> calsum(int x, int y, int z) // C89[/color]

// comments are not valid C89. ;)
[color=blue]
> int calsum(int x, int y, int z) // C99
>[color=green]
> > {
> > int d;
> > d=x+y+z;
> > }[/color]
>
> Undefined behavior. return statement required.[/color]

The return statement is required because the calling function attempts
to
use the value.

C99 did not remove the 'feature' that, in general, non-void functions
are not
required to return a value.

--
Peter

**Tatu Portin** · Nov 23 '05, 11:15 PM

Re: function automatically returns the value

Keith Thompson wrote:
[color=blue]
> Tatu Portin <axel86@mbnet.f i> writes:[color=green]
>> chellappa wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> hi All,
>>> function automatically returns the value,am not used "return"
>>> i am using Linux -gcc complier
>>> please tell me.... what is problem...
>>>[/color]
>>
>> #include <stdio.h>
>> main()
>> {
>> int a,b,c,sum;
>> printf("ENTER ANY THREE NUMBERS :\n");
>> scanf("%d%d%d", &a,&b,&c);
>> sum=calsum(a,b, c);
>> printf("sum = %d\n", sum);
>> }
>>
>> calsum(x,y,z)
>> int x,y,z;
>> {
>> int d;
>> d=x+y+z;
>> }
>>
>> In C, functions that have not defined return value,
>> do return value of int.
>> So, following prototypes are identical:
>>
>> int func (int x, char b);
>>
>> func (int x, char b);[/color]
>
> That's true in C90, but not in C99 -- and it's a bad idea in either.
>[color=green]
>> If you want to declare a function without return value,
>> you use void:
>>
>> /* A function that doesn't return a value. */
>> void func (int x, char b);[/color]
>
> Yes, of course, but since chellappa was assigning the result of the
> function call to a variable, he obviously wanted the calsum()
> function
> to return a value. The fix is not to change the function so it
> returns void; the fix is to add a return statement (and to use
> proper prototypes rather than the archaic, but still legal, pre-ANSI
> function declarations, and to fix a few other problems).
>
> The original question was why the incorrect code was still "working"
> (i.e., the value of x+y+z was assigned to sum even though there was
> no
> return statement). The general answer is that the program invokes
> undefined behavior, and the observed behavior is as legitimate as
> any
> other behavior. The specific answer probably has to do with how the
> particular compiler uses CPU registers, but quite frankly there's
> little reason to care.[/color]

Well, yes, and the main() could also return the number of characters
printed by printf (). Have to read more carefully.

**Mark McIntyre** · Nov 24 '05, 12:45 AM

Re: function automatically returns the value

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 18:17:04 GMT, in comp.lang.c , Keith Thompson
<kst-u@mib.org> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>Yes, it's archaic, but it's still legal (except that C99 forbids
>implicit int). But of course there's no good reason not to use
>prototypes.[/color]

I guess one might be stuch with a pre-ansi compiler. Thats why gcc
have a website mind you...
--
Mark McIntyre
CLC FAQ <http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html>
CLC readme: <http://www.ungerhu.com/jxh/clc.welcome.txt >

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**haroon** · Nov 24 '05, 09:05 AM

Re: function automatically returns the value

Mike Wahler wrote:

[snip]
[color=blue]
> What probably happened for you was that the value of
> 'd' just accidentally happened to get stored in a
> register which was also accessed by the calling
> function.[/color]

on intel x86 it happens to be EAX. this functions returns 0 on my x86
and x86_64 machines because the line asm("xor %eax, %eax") clears the
eax contents.
/*CODE BEGINS*/
calsum(x,y,z)
int x,y,z;
{
int d;
d=x+y+z;
asm("xor %eax, %eax");
}
/*CODE ENDS*/

function automatically returns the value

function automatically returns the value

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