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    Chapter 4. Creating Functions > Using Pointers to Functions

    Using Pointers to Functions

    In Objective-C, function names are actually pointers. You can pass function names to other functions, and in the receiving function, you can call the passed function name if you treat it as a pointer.

    For example, you can pass function names to this function, named caller_function(), and it will call the passed function:

    void caller_function(void (*pointer_to_
function)(void))
{
   (*pointer_to_function)();
}

    To call a function pointer:

    1.
    Create a new program named functionpointers.m.

    2.
    In functionpointers.m, enter the code shown in Listing 4.19.

    This code sets up a function named printem() and passes its name to caller_function().

    3.
    Add the code to implement caller_function(), which will call the function pointer you pass to it (Listing 4.20).

    4.
    Save functionpointers.m.

    5.
    Run the functionpointers.m program.

    You should see the following:

    Hello there

    Listing 4.20. The functionpointers.m program.

    #include <stdio.h>

void printem(void);

void caller_function(void (*pointer_to_
function)(void));

int main()
{
    caller_function(printem);

    return 0;
}

void printem(void)
{
   printf("Hello there");
}

void caller_function(void (*pointer_to_
					function)(void))
					{
					(*pointer_to_function)();
					}