What does function mean?

A named block of code that does one job and can be called from anywhere in a program. It may take parameters and may return a value. Also called a subroutine or, when it returns nothing, a procedure.

Also written as: functions, subroutine, subroutines, procedure

In a lesson

The functions in the last lesson did the same thing every time. Real functions take information in and give an answer back, the way forward(50) takes a speed and distance() gives a number. This lesson is about both directions.

Learn it

• Taught in F4.2 Parameters and return values Functions and structured code, GCSE

Used in

• F1.1 What a program is
• F1.3 Calling functions
• F1.8 Data types and casting
• F1.9 Arithmetic operators
• F1.10 Project: ask and drive
• F3.1 String handling
• F3.4 Iterating over a list
• F3.7 Random numbers
• F4.1 Writing functions
• F4.3 Local and global variables

and 134 more lessons.

All glossary terms