Functions in SomonScript

A function is a named block of code that performs a specific task. With functions you can write code once and use it many times.

1. A simple example: a greeting function

In the example below we create a function that builds a greeting and prints it on the screen. The teacher can first show only the салом() part and then call the function several times.

Greeting function

The function takes a name and an age as parameters and builds a personal message.

example.som

// Declaring a function that builds a greeting
функсия салом(ном: сатр, синну_сол: рақам) {
  // Printing a message with the name and age
  чоп.сабт("Салом, " + ном + "! Ту " + синну_сол + " сола ҳастӣ.");
}

// Calling the function with two arguments
салом("Аҳмад", 15);
салом("Фотима", 14);

terminal

somon run functions.som
Салом, Аҳмад! Ту 15 сола ҳастӣ.
Салом, Фотима! Ту 14 сола ҳастӣ.

2. A harder example: a function that returns a value

So far our functions have only printed text. Now let's see how a function can return a result so that we can use it somewhere else.

Calculating the area of a rectangle

A function with two parameters (length and width) that returns the area.

example.som

// A function that calculates the area of a rectangle
функсия масоҳати_росткунҷа(дарозӣ: рақам, паҳнӣ: рақам): рақам {
  // Calculating the area
  тағ натиҷа: рақам = дарозӣ * паҳнӣ;
  // Returning the result to where the function was called
  бозгашт натиҷа;
}

// Using the function and printing the result
тағ а: рақам = масоҳати_росткунҷа(5, 3);
чоп.сабт("Масоҳат: " + а);

terminal

somon run area.som
Масоҳат: 15

3. Exercises

Exercises to reinforce the topic. They can be done in groups or as homework.

Create a function that takes the name of a student and their average grade and prints the message "You passed" or "You did not pass".
Write a function called секарата that takes a number and returns its cube.
Create a function that takes an age and returns "adult" or "minor".