Skip to main content
Engineering LibreTexts

7.1: Psuedocode Examples for Functions

  • Page ID
    10275
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Concept

    No standard for pseudocode syntax exists. However, there are some commonly followed conventions to help make pseudocode written by one programmer easily understood by another programmer. The following describes a method for using pseudocode for functions that would be understood by programmers. Five concepts are:

    • Use a beginning phrase word to start the function
    • Use a communication phrase word to identify the items being passed into the function
    • Use indentation to show the action part of the function
    • Use a communication phrase word to identify the items being passed out of the function
    • Use an ending phrase word to end the function
    • Use a calling phrase word to direct your program to use a fucntion

    The following is a suggested outline of function phrase words:

    Item/Purpose Starting Phrase Word Ending Phrase Word
    Beginning Function N/A
    Communication In Pass In: None
    Action N/A N/A
    Communication Out Pass Out: none
    Ending N/A Endfunction
    Calling a Function Call: none

    Examples

    Here are some examples showing functions defined in pseudocode using our conventions as described above.

    Pseudocode: Function with no parameter
    Function clear monitor
      Pass In: nothing
      Direct the operating system to clear the monitor
      Pass Out: nothing
    Endfunction 
    
    Pseudocode: Function with parameter passing
    Function delay program so you can see the monitor
      Pass In: integer representing tenths of a second
      Using the operating system delay the program
      Pass Out: nothing
    Endfunction 
    
    Psuedocode: Function main calling the clear monitor function
    Function main
      Pass In: nothing
      Doing some lines of code
      Call: clear monitor
      Doing some lines of code
      Pass Out: value zero to the operating system
    Endfunction 
    

    Definitions

    Phrase Word
    Words used to make pseudocode logic clear to any reader.

    This page titled 7.1: Psuedocode Examples for Functions is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kenneth Leroy Busbee (OpenStax CNX) .

    • Was this article helpful?