Calling a C Function without Prototype

c function function-prototypes
Wilma picture Wilma · Oct 26, 2011 · Viewed 9.7k times · Source

I have a C file (say file1.c) that calls a function fun1(1,b).

This function fun1(int a,int b) resides in another C file (say file2.c) but its prototype is not included in the header file (say file2.h). file2.h is included in file1.c.

My question is, if I call fun1(a,b) from file1.c, will it work by passing control to the function definition in file2.c? Or will an exception occur or what will be the expected behavior?

Do I have to give a prototype of fun1(int a, int b) in file2.h for this to work?

Answer

bearda picture bearda · Oct 26, 2011

A couple things can happen depending on the situation and your compiler:

  • You get a compilation error. The compiler throws up its arms and refuses to produce an object file.
  • The compiler treats the function declaration as implied by the call and proceeds to link. It may assume that you know what you're doing in terms of function arguments. Usually it also assumes an int return type. Almost every compiler I've worked with will produce a warning when it does this.
  • The compiler treats the declaration as implied by the call but fails to link. Like the above, but the linker then notices that the implied function you're trying to call and the one you actually did write are different and dies.

You SHOULD provide a prototype regardless.

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