
A function is a self-contained block of statements that perform a particular task.
# Syntax

# Call by value vs. call by reference
The parameters of functions can be passed in two ways:

1) **Call by value**:
A copy of the variable is passed to the function.


2) **Call by reference**:
An address of the variable is passed to the function. 

> Call by reference is preferred when we have to return more than one variable, like in C programming where we can only return one variable at a time. Call by reference can be achieved via pointers.

# Code





## Call by value
In the example below, we are simply swapping two numbers. Although the swapping took place inside the function, as you can see from the output, the output says the opposite. This happens because we have sent a copy of the variable instead of its exact address.


#include<stdio.h>
void swap(int n1, int n2)
{
  int temp = n1;
  n1 = n2;
  n2 = temp;

}
int main() {
    int x = 20;
    int y = 68;
    printf("The numbers before swapping n1 and n2 %d %d \n",x, y);
    swap(x, y);
    printf("The numbers after swapping n1 and n2 %d %d \n",x, y);
    return 0; 
}

## Call by reference
In this example, the output shows the correct result. This happens because we have sent the exact address of the variable.




#include<stdio.h>
void swap(int *n1 ,int *n2)
{
  int temp = *n1;
  *n1 = *n2;
  *n2 = temp;
  
}
int main() {
    int n1 = 20;
    int n2 = 68;
    printf("The numbers before swapping n1 and n2 %d %d \n",n1, n2);
    swap(&n1, &n2);
    printf("The numbers after swapping n1 and n2 %d %d",n1, n2);
    return 0;
}

Call by value vs. call by reference in C

Call by value passes a copy of the variable, while call by reference passes the variable's address, ideal for multiple returns.