Must declare function prototype in C? [duplicate]

Answer 1

It is not required, but it is bad practice not to use prototypes.

With prototypes, the compiler can verify you are calling the function correctly (using the right number and type of parameters).

Without prototypes, it's possible to have this:

// file1.c
void doit(double d)
{
    ....
}

int sum(int a, int b, int c)
{
    return a + b + c;
}

and this:

// file2.c

// In C, this is just a declaration and not a prototype
void doit();
int sum();

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    char idea[] = "use prototypes!";

    // without the prototype, the compiler will pass a char *
    // to a function that expects a double
    doit(idea);

    // and here without a prototype the compiler allows you to
    // call a function that is expecting three argument with just
    // one argument (in the calling function, args b and c will be
    // random junk)
    return sum(argc);
}