Call by value and Call by reference in C

In C, a function specifies the modes of parameter passing to it. There are two ways to specify function calls: call by value and call by reference in C.C is a programming language that allows you to pass arguments to functions using either call by value or call by reference, and understanding these methods is crucial for effective memory management. When parameters are passed to a function, the way you pass arguments determines how the function interacts with the data.

In call by value, the function parameters gets the copy of actual parameters which means changes made in function parameters did not reflect in actual parameters. Here, the actual argument is passed to the function, but since the actual and formal parameters are stored in different memory locations, the original data remains unchanged.

In call by reference, the function parameter gets reference of actual parameter which means they point to similar storage space and changes made in function parameters will reflect in actual parameters. In this method, the parameters passed share the same memory space, allowing the function to directly modify the original data.

Before reading this article read the following C programming topics:

Introduction to Function Call

In C programming, a function call is the process of invoking a function to perform a specific operation or task. When you call a function, you pass data to it using arguments, and the function processes this data using its parameters. There are two primary methods for passing data during a function call: call by value and call by reference. These two methods determine how the function interacts with the data—whether it works with a copy or directly with the original memory location. Understanding the difference between call by value and call by reference is essential for effective C programming, as it impacts how your code manages memory, modifies data, and maintains program integrity. As we explore these two methods, you’ll see how the way parameters are passed can affect the outcome of your function and the data it works with.

Scope of the Article

This article introduces two methods for calling a function: Call by Value and Call by Reference in C along with Examples of call by value and call by reference in C.
The article differentiates and prescribes cases where call by value is appropriate and when it is not so you can learn about difference between call by value and call by reference.

Difference Between Call by Value and Call by Reference in C

The key difference lies in how the function interacts with the parameters: in call by value, the function works with a copy, while in call by reference, it works with the original data.

Calling by Value	Calling by Reference
Copies the value of an object.	Pass a pointer that contains the memory address of an object that gives access to its contents.
Guarantees that changes that alter the state of the parameter will only affect the named parameter bounded by the scope of the function.	Changes that alter the state of the parameter will reflect to the contents of the passed object.
Simpler to implement and simpler to reason with.	More difficult to keep track of changing values that happens for each time a function may be called.

Call by Value in C

Calling a function by value will cause the program to copy the contents of an object passed into a function. To implement this in C, a function declaration has the following form: [return type] functionName([type][parameter name],...).

Call by Value Example: Swapping the values of the two variables

Output:

We can observe that even when we change the content of x and y in the scope of the swap function, these changes do not reflect on x and y variables defined in the scope of main. This is because we call swap() by value and it will get separate memory for x and y so the changes made in swap() will not reflect in main().

Call by Reference in C

Calling a function by reference will give function parameter the address of original parameter due to which they will point to same memory location and any changes made in the function parameter will also reflect in original parameters.This process is known as a reference call, where reference passes allow the function to directly access and modify the original data, resulting in a modified value after the function executes.

To implement this in C, a function declaration has the following form: [return type] functionName([type]* [parameter name],...).

Call by Reference Example: Swapping the values of the two variables

Output:

We can observe in function parameters instead of using int x,int y we used int *x,int *y and in function call instead of giving x,y, we give &x,&y this methodology is call by reference as we used pointers as function parameter which will get original parameters' address instead of their value. & operator is used to give address of the variables and * is used to access the memory location that pointer is pointing. As the function variable is pointing to the same memory location as the original parameters, the changes made in swap() reflect in main() which we can see in the above output.

C Language Implementation

The C language provides flexibility in how function calls are implemented, allowing you to choose between call by value and call by reference depending on your needs. In a function definition, formal parameters are specified as placeholders for the data that will be passed in. When a function call is made, actual parameters (the real data or variables) are provided. With call by value, the function receives a copy of the actual parameter’s value, meaning any changes made inside the function do not affect the original data. In contrast, call by reference involves passing the memory address of the actual parameter, so the function can directly modify the original data stored at that memory location. This distinction is crucial in C language programming, as it determines whether the function can affect the original data or only work with a local copy. By understanding how C handles function calls, memory addresses, and parameter passing, you can write functions that behave exactly as intended and manage data efficiently.

When to Use Call by Value and Call by Reference in C?

Copying is expensive, and we have to use our resources wisely. Imagine copying a large object like an array with over a million elements only to enumerate the values inside the array, doing so will result in a waste of time and memory. Time is valuable and we can omit to copy when:

We intend to read state information about an object, or
Allow a function to modify the state of our object.

However, when we do not intend our function to alter the state of our object outside of our function, copying prevents us from making unintentional mistakes and introduce bugs. Now we know when to use call by value and call by reference in C.

Now we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of call by value and call by reference in C.

Best Practices for Function Call

When writing functions in C, choosing the right method for passing arguments is key to writing robust and maintainable code. Use call by value when you want to ensure that the original data remains unchanged, as this method protects against unintended modifications and is generally faster for small or simple data types. For large objects or when you need the function to modify the original data, call by reference is more efficient, as it avoids unnecessary copying and allows direct modification through pointer variables. Always use the dereference operator carefully to access or modify data at the memory address provided. Understanding the key differences between call by value and call by reference will help you decide which method best suits your function’s purpose. By following these best practices, you can write clear, efficient code that minimizes bugs and makes your intentions explicit to anyone reading your code.

Advantages of Using Call by Value Method

Guarantees that changes that alter the behavior of a parameter stay within its scope and do not affect the value of an object passed into the function
Reduce the chance of introducing subtle bugs which can be difficult to monitor.
Passing by value removes the possible side effects of a function which makes your program easier to maintain and reason with.

Advantages of Using Call by Reference Method

Calling a function by reference does not incur performance penalties that copying would require. Likewise, it does not duplicate the memory necessary to access the content of an object that resides in our program.
Allows a function to update the value of an object that is passed into it.
Allows you to pass functions as references through a technique called function pointers which may alter the behavior of a function. Likewise, lambda expressions may also be passed inside a function. Both enable function composition which has neat theoretical properties.

Disadvantages of Using Call by Value Method

Incurs performance penalty when copying large objects.
Requires to reallocate memory with the same size as the object passed into the function.

Disadvantages of Using Call by Reference Method

For every function that shares with the same object, your responsibility of tracking each change also expands.
Making sure that the object does not die out abruptly is a serious issue about calling a function by reference. This is especially true in the context of a multithreaded application.

A C function has the following form [return_type] [name]([type][parameter_name],...){[body]}.
We could specify the mode of passing parameter of function either it is call by value or call by reference.
Functions in C can accept functions and lambda expressions.
A function can return a pointer, user-defined types (structs), or a primitive data type.

Now we know all important things about call by value and call by reference in C.

Conclusion

There are two ways to pass an argument in C: passing by value and passing by reference. Also known as call by value and call by reference in C.
Passing by value copies the content of an object that is being passed into the function. This results in an independent object that exists within the scope of that function. This provides a simpler way to think and reason with our program as we do not allow the function to modify the contents of an object.
Passing by reference elides copying and instead passes the memory address of an object. A function may be granted with the privileges to modify the values of an object that is passed onto it.
Passing by reference enables a function to accept functions and lambda expressions.
Managing object references within the program can be difficult to maintain, which may incur a less maintainable codebase.

Call by Value and Call by Reference in C