passing variable number of arguments

Question

Can we pass variable number of arguments to a function in c?

Answer 1

Yes, if the function accepts variable arguments. If you need to make your own variable-argument function, there are macros that begin with va_ which give you access to the arguments.

Answer 2

make sure that the variable argument list should always be at the end of the argument list

example: void func(float a, int b, ...) is correct

but void func(float a, ..., int b) is not valid

Answer 3

Here is an example:

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdarg.h>
#include <stdio.h>

int maxof(int, ...) ;
void f(void);

int main(void){
        f();
        exit(EXIT SUCCESS);
}

int maxof(int n_args, ...){
        register int i;
        int max, a;
        va_list ap;

        va_start(ap, n_args);
        max = va_arg(ap, int);
        for(i = 2; i <= n_args; i++) {
                if((a = va_arg(ap, int)) > max)
                        max = a;
        }

        va_end(ap);
        return max;
}

void f(void) {
        int i = 5;
        int j[256];
        j[42] = 24;
        printf("%d\n", maxof(3, i, j[42], 0));
}

Answer 4

"You should consider that using variadic functions (C-style) is a dangerous flaw," says Stephane Rolland. You can find his helpful post here.

Answer 5

If it is a function that accepts a variable number of arguments, yes.