Characteristics and Limitations of Functions

Keep in mind the following when working with functions:
  • You can call functions within transactions or within functions.
  • Variables declared within functions are automatic - not static as in transactions. They are allocated each time you call a function.
  • Only string variables can be initialized with the init keyword.
  • Parameters of functions are called by reference.
  • To return a value, assign the function call to an existing variable.
  • You call functions using the name of the function in an expression or by
  • using the name of the function as a single statement (when you are not interested in the return value of the function or when the function does not have a return value).
  • A return statement used in a function will always exit the function and the transaction that calls the function.