Function: A Function is a reusable piece of code. It can have input data on which it can operate (i.e. arguments) and it can also return data by having a return type. It is the concept of procedural and functional programming languages.
Method: The working of the method is similar to a function i.e. it also can have input parameters/arguments and can also return data by having a return type but has two important differences when compared to a function.
- A method is associated or related to the instance of the object it is called using.
- A method is limited to operating on data inside the class in which the method is contained.
- It is a concept of object-oriented programming language.
In simple words if a function is part of an instance of a class i.e. (Object) then it is called method else it is called function.
Function |
Method |
---|---|
It is called by its own name/independently. | It is called by its object’s name/referenced. |
As it is called independently it means the data is passed explicitly or externally. | As it is called dependently which means the data is passed implicitly or internally. |
Implementation of Function in Procedural Programming Language(C):
// C program to demonstrate a Function #include <stdio.h> // Declaration of function int func()
{ printf ( "\n FUNCTION" ); // statement
} int main()
{ func(); // calling of function
return 0;
} |
Implementation of Function in Object Oriented Programming Language(JAVA):
/* a method is similar in working to function but it belongs or is associated with the instance of a class i.e. object
*/
import java.io.*;
// Declaration of class class demo {
public int method()
{
System.out.println( "METHOD" );
return 0 ;
}
} class GFG {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
demo test = new demo();
test.method(); // here you can see method belongs to
// instance of a class named demo and is
// called using object(test) of a
// class(demo), so it is a method
}
} |