Getting started with functions
What exactly are C++ functions? A function is a collection of variables, expressions, and control flow statements (loops and branches). In fact, any of the code we have learned about in this book so far can be used in a function. The first part of a function that we write is called the signature. Here is an example function signature:
void shootLazers(int power, int direction);
If we add an opening and closing pair of curly braces {...} along with some code that the function performs, we will have a complete function, that is, a definition:
void shootLazers(int power, int direction)
{
// ZAPP!
}
We could then use our new function from another part of our code, perhaps like this:
// Attack the player shootLazers(50, 180) // Run the code in the function // I'm back again - code continues here after the function ends
When we use a function, we say that we call it. At the point where we call shootLazers, our...