Question

What is a library function?

Short answer

Answer: A library function is a pre-written block of code that performs a specific task or operation, provided by a software library or a programming language's standard library. Programmers use library functions to save time and effort, as they can reuse the code provided by others rather than writing it from scratch. The advantages of using library functions include time-saving, reliability due to well-tested and optimized code, and promoting code reusability and modularity, which leads to better maintenance and readability of code.

Step-by-step solution

Introducing Library Functions

A library function is a pre-written block of code that performs a specific task or operation, which is included in a software library, or provided as part of a programming language's standard library. Programmers use library functions to save time and effort, as they can reuse the code provided by others rather than writing it from scratch. #Step 2: Explaining the advantages of using library functions#

Advantages of Library Functions

Using library functions offers several advantages: 1. They save time, as programmers don't need to write code from scratch for standard tasks. 2. They are usually well-tested and optimized, providing reliable and efficient solutions. 3. They promote code reusability and modularity, as multiple programs can use the same library functions, leading to better maintenance and readability of code. #Step 3: Providing an example of a library function#

Example of a Library Function

Let's take an example from the C programming language. The `sqrt()` function is available in C's math library and can be used to find the square root of a number. Here's a simple program that demonstrates the use of the `sqrt()` library function: ``` c #include #include // The math library where the sqrt() function is defined int main() { double num, result; printf("Enter a number: "); scanf("%lf", #); // using the sqrt() library function from the math library result = sqrt(num); printf("Square root of %.2lf = %.2lf\n", num, result); return 0; } ``` In this example, we include the `math.h` header file to make use of the `sqrt()` library function. Then, we use `sqrt(num)` to calculate the square root of the input number, and print the result.