Skip to main content

Functions

Functions are sequences of statements that perform a specific task. Functions have parameters (inputs) and an optional return value (output). Functions are typed: the function type consists of the parameter types and the return type.

Functions are values, i.e., they can be assigned to constants and variables, and can be passed as arguments to other functions. This behavior is often called "first-class functions".

Function Declarations

Functions can be declared by using the fun keyword, followed by the name of the declaration, the parameters, the optional return type, and the code that should be executed when the function is called.

The parameters need to be enclosed in parentheses. The return type, if any, is separated from the parameters by a colon (:). The function code needs to be enclosed in opening and closing braces.

Each parameter must have a name, which is the name that the argument value will be available as within the function.

An additional argument label can be provided to require function calls to use the label to provide an argument value for the parameter.

Argument labels make code more explicit and readable. For example, they avoid confusion about the order of arguments when there are multiple arguments that have the same type.

Argument labels should be named so they make sense from the perspective of the function call.

Argument labels precede the parameter name. The special argument label _ indicates that a function call can omit the argument label. If no argument label is declared in the function declaration, the parameter name is the argument label of the function declaration, and function calls must use the parameter name as the argument label.

Each parameter needs to have a type annotation, which follows the parameter name after a colon.

Function calls may provide arguments for parameters which are subtypes of the parameter types.

There is no support for optional parameters, i.e. default values for parameters, and variadic functions, i.e. functions that take an arbitrary amount of arguments.


_15
// Declare a function named `double`, which multiples a number by two.
_15
//
_15
// The special argument label _ is specified for the parameter,
_15
// so no argument label has to be provided in a function call.
_15
//
_15
fun double(_ x: Int): Int {
_15
return x * 2
_15
}
_15
_15
// Call the function named `double` with the value 4 for the first parameter.
_15
//
_15
// The argument label can be omitted in the function call as the declaration
_15
// specifies the special argument label _ for the parameter.
_15
//
_15
double(2) // is `4`

It is possible to require argument labels for some parameters, and not require argument labels for other parameters.


_38
// Declare a function named `clamp`. The function takes an integer value,
_38
// the lower limit, and the upper limit. It returns an integer between
_38
// the lower and upper limit.
_38
//
_38
// For the first parameter the special argument label _ is used,
_38
// so no argument label has to be given for it in a function call.
_38
//
_38
// For the second and third parameter no argument label is given,
_38
// so the parameter names are the argument labels, i.e., the parameter names
_38
// have to be given as argument labels in a function call.
_38
//
_38
fun clamp(_ value: Int, min: Int, max: Int): Int {
_38
if value > max {
_38
return max
_38
}
_38
_38
if value < min {
_38
return min
_38
}
_38
_38
return value
_38
}
_38
_38
// Declare a constant which has the result of a call to the function
_38
// named `clamp` as its initial value.
_38
//
_38
// For the first argument no label is given, as it is not required by
_38
// the function declaration (the special argument label `_` is specified).
_38
//
_38
// For the second and this argument the labels must be provided,
_38
// as the function declaration does not specify the special argument label `_`
_38
// for these two parameters.
_38
//
_38
// As the function declaration also does not specify argument labels
_38
// for these parameters, the parameter names must be used as argument labels.
_38
//
_38
let clamped = clamp(123, min: 0, max: 100)
_38
// `clamped` is `100`


_51
// Declare a function named `send`, which transfers an amount
_51
// from one account to another.
_51
//
_51
// The implementation is omitted for brevity.
_51
//
_51
// The first two parameters of the function have the same type, so there is
_51
// a potential that a function call accidentally provides arguments in
_51
// the wrong order.
_51
//
_51
// While the parameter names `senderAddress` and `receiverAddress`
_51
// are descriptive inside the function, they might be too verbose
_51
// to require them as argument labels in function calls.
_51
//
_51
// For this reason the shorter argument labels `from` and `to` are specified,
_51
// which still convey the meaning of the two parameters without being overly
_51
// verbose.
_51
//
_51
// The name of the third parameter, `amount`, is both meaningful inside
_51
// the function and also in a function call, so no argument label is given,
_51
// and the parameter name is required as the argument label in a function call.
_51
//
_51
fun send(from senderAddress: Address, to receivingAddress: Address, amount: Int) {
_51
// The function code is omitted for brevity.
_51
// ...
_51
}
_51
_51
// Declare a constant which refers to the sending account's address.
_51
//
_51
// The initial value is omitted for brevity.
_51
//
_51
let sender: Address = // ...
_51
_51
// Declare a constant which refers to the receiving account's address.
_51
//
_51
// The initial value is omitted for brevity.
_51
//
_51
let receiver: Address = // ...
_51
_51
// Call the function named `send`.
_51
//
_51
// The function declaration requires argument labels for all parameters,
_51
// so they need to be provided in the function call.
_51
//
_51
// This avoids ambiguity. For example, in some languages (like C) it is
_51
// a convention to order the parameters so that the receiver occurs first,
_51
// followed by the sender. In other languages, it is common to have
_51
// the sender be the first parameter, followed by the receiver.
_51
//
_51
// Here, the order is clear – send an amount from an account to another account.
_51
//
_51
send(from: sender, to: receiver, amount: 100)

The order of the arguments in a function call must match the order of the parameters in the function declaration.


_10
// Declare a function named `test`, which accepts two parameters, named `first` and `second`
_10
//
_10
fun test(first: Int, second: Int) {
_10
// ...
_10
}
_10
_10
// Invalid: the arguments are provided in the wrong order,
_10
// even though the argument labels are provided correctly.
_10
//
_10
test(second: 1, first: 2)

Functions can be nested, i.e., the code of a function may declare further functions.


_14
// Declare a function which multiplies a number by two, and adds one.
_14
//
_14
fun doubleAndAddOne(_ x: Int): Int {
_14
_14
// Declare a nested function which multiplies a number by two.
_14
//
_14
fun double(_ x: Int) {
_14
return x * 2
_14
}
_14
_14
return double(x) + 1
_14
}
_14
_14
doubleAndAddOne(2) // is `5`

Functions do not support overloading.

Function Expressions

Functions can be also used as expressions. The syntax is the same as for function declarations, except that function expressions have no name, i.e., they are anonymous.


_10
// Declare a constant named `double`, which has a function as its value.
_10
//
_10
// The function multiplies a number by two when it is called.
_10
//
_10
// This function's type is `((Int): Int)`.
_10
//
_10
let double =
_10
fun (_ x: Int): Int {
_10
return x * 2
_10
}

Function Calls

Functions can be called (invoked). Function calls need to provide exactly as many argument values as the function has parameters.


_15
fun double(_ x: Int): Int {
_15
return x * 2
_15
}
_15
_15
// Valid: the correct amount of arguments is provided.
_15
//
_15
double(2) // is `4`
_15
_15
// Invalid: too many arguments are provided.
_15
//
_15
double(2, 3)
_15
_15
// Invalid: too few arguments are provided.
_15
//
_15
double()

Function Types

Function types consist of the function's parameter types and the function's return type.

The parameter types need to be enclosed in parentheses, followed by a colon (:), and end with the return type. The whole function type needs to be enclosed in parentheses.


_10
// Declare a function named `add`, with the function type `((Int, Int): Int)`.
_10
//
_10
fun add(a: Int, b: Int): Int {
_10
return a + b
_10
}


_10
// Declare a constant named `add`, with the function type `((Int, Int): Int)`
_10
//
_10
let add: ((Int, Int): Int) =
_10
fun (a: Int, b: Int): Int {
_10
return a + b
_10
}

If the function has no return type, it implicitly has the return type Void.


_10
// Declare a constant named `doNothing`, which is a function
_10
// that takes no parameters and returns nothing.
_10
//
_10
let doNothing: ((): Void) =
_10
fun () {}

Parentheses also control precedence. For example, a function type ((Int): ((): Int)) is the type for a function which accepts one argument with type Int, and which returns another function, that takes no arguments and returns an Int.

The type [((Int): Int); 2] specifies an array type of two functions, which accept one integer and return one integer.

Argument labels are not part of the function type. This has the advantage that functions with different argument labels, potentially written by different authors are compatible as long as the parameter types and the return type match. It has the disadvantage that function calls to plain function values, cannot accept argument labels.


_36
// Declare a function which takes one argument that has type `Int`.
_36
// The function has type `((Int): Void)`.
_36
//
_36
fun foo1(x: Int) {}
_36
_36
// Call function `foo1`. This requires an argument label.
_36
foo1(x: 1)
_36
_36
// Declare another function which takes one argument that has type `Int`.
_36
// The function also has type `((Int): Void)`.
_36
//
_36
fun foo2(y: Int) {}
_36
_36
// Call function `foo2`. This requires an argument label.
_36
foo2(y: 2)
_36
_36
// Declare a variable which has type `((Int): Void)` and use `foo1`
_36
// as its initial value.
_36
//
_36
var someFoo: ((Int): Void) = foo1
_36
_36
// Call the function assigned to variable `someFoo`.
_36
// This is valid as the function types match.
_36
// This does neither require nor allow argument labels.
_36
//
_36
someFoo(3)
_36
_36
// Assign function `foo2` to variable `someFoo`.
_36
// This is valid as the function types match.
_36
//
_36
someFoo = foo2
_36
_36
// Call the function assigned to variable `someFoo`.
_36
// This does neither require nor allow argument labels.
_36
//
_36
someFoo(4)

Closures

A function may refer to variables and constants of its outer scopes in which it is defined. It is called a closure, because it is closing over those variables and constants. A closure can read from the variables and constants and assign to the variables it refers to.


_17
// Declare a function named `makeCounter` which returns a function that
_17
// each time when called, returns the next integer, starting at 1.
_17
//
_17
fun makeCounter(): ((): Int) {
_17
var count = 0
_17
return fun (): Int {
_17
// NOTE: read from and assign to the non-local variable
_17
// `count`, which is declared in the outer function.
_17
//
_17
count = count + 1
_17
return count
_17
}
_17
}
_17
_17
let test = makeCounter()
_17
test() // is `1`
_17
test() // is `2`

Argument Passing Behavior

When arguments are passed to a function, they are copied. Therefore, values that are passed into a function are unchanged in the caller's scope when the function returns. This behavior is known as call-by-value.


_16
// Declare a function that changes the first two elements
_16
// of an array of integers.
_16
//
_16
fun change(_ numbers: [Int]) {
_16
// Change the elements of the passed in array.
_16
// The changes are only local, as the array was copied.
_16
//
_16
numbers[0] = 1
_16
numbers[1] = 2
_16
// `numbers` is `[1, 2]`
_16
}
_16
_16
let numbers = [0, 1]
_16
_16
change(numbers)
_16
// `numbers` is still `[0, 1]`

Parameters are constant, i.e., it is not allowed to assign to them.


_10
fun test(x: Int) {
_10
// Invalid: cannot assign to a parameter (constant)
_10
//
_10
x = 2
_10
}

Function Preconditions and Postconditions

Functions may have preconditions and may have postconditions. Preconditions and postconditions can be used to restrict the inputs (values for parameters) and output (return value) of a function.

Preconditions must be true right before the execution of the function. Preconditions are part of the function and introduced by the pre keyword, followed by the condition block.

Postconditions must be true right after the execution of the function. Postconditions are part of the function and introduced by the post keyword, followed by the condition block. Postconditions may only occur after preconditions, if any.

A conditions block consists of one or more conditions. Conditions are expressions evaluating to a boolean.

Conditions may be written on separate lines, or multiple conditions can be written on the same line, separated by a semicolon. This syntax follows the syntax for statements.

Following each condition, an optional description can be provided after a colon. The condition description is used as an error message when the condition fails.

In postconditions, the special constant result refers to the result of the function.


_27
fun factorial(_ n: Int): Int {
_27
pre {
_27
// Require the parameter `n` to be greater than or equal to zero.
_27
//
_27
n >= 0:
_27
"factorial is only defined for integers greater than or equal to zero"
_27
}
_27
post {
_27
// Ensure the result will be greater than or equal to 1.
_27
//
_27
result >= 1:
_27
"the result must be greater than or equal to 1"
_27
}
_27
_27
if n < 1 {
_27
return 1
_27
}
_27
_27
return n * factorial(n - 1)
_27
}
_27
_27
factorial(5) // is `120`
_27
_27
// Run-time error: The given argument does not satisfy
_27
// the precondition `n >= 0` of the function, the program aborts.
_27
//
_27
factorial(-2)

In postconditions, the special function before can be used to get the value of an expression just before the function is called.


_12
var n = 0
_12
_12
fun incrementN() {
_12
post {
_12
// Require the new value of `n` to be the old value of `n`, plus one.
_12
//
_12
n == before(n) + 1:
_12
"n must be incremented by 1"
_12
}
_12
_12
n = n + 1
_12
}

Functions are Values

Functions are values ("first-class"), so they may be assigned to variables and fields or passed to functions as arguments.


_17
// Declare a function named `transform` which applies a function to each element
_17
// of an array of integers and returns a new array of the results.
_17
//
_17
pub fun transform(function: ((Int): Int), integers: [Int]): [Int] {
_17
var newIntegers: [Int] = []
_17
for integer in integers {
_17
newIntegers.append(function(integer))
_17
}
_17
return newIntegers
_17
}
_17
_17
pub fun double(_ integer: Int): Int {
_17
return integer * 2
_17
}
_17
_17
let newIntegers = transform(function: double, integers: [1, 2, 3])
_17
// `newIntegers` is `[2, 4, 6]`