What is function?
The definition of Function is formulas that are predefined,
user need to enter only the arguments to get the desired result.
Let us understand what Function is and what could be the
proper definition of Function using simple example. Suppose we need to find out
the maximum of any number series. We will use MAX function; we will type MAX
and within the bracket, we will enter the number series and we will get one of
the numbers which is the maximum number from these number series. Here MAX() is
a function.
Excel has many functions, some of them needs to be feed by arguments
and some are NOT.
Also, few functions don’t need to be feed with arguments but
are also known as functions, like TIME() and NOW().
Generally, a function ended by opening and closing bracket where
we put our arguments and we call them parentheses (brackets).
Therefore, the definition of function needs little modification,
and we can define function as ‘function is formulas which is predefined and may
or may not require arguments.’
Why use Function?
Human tendency is to reduce the repetitive and frequent jobs.
Suppose we need to calculate the SUM of few numbers, to get the sum we have to
write 10 lines of (programming) code. (A programming code is set of
instructions to the computer, the code uses the compiler to converts them to
zeros and ones, the language of computer and the computer CPU responds
accordingly.)
So, every time we want SUM of two or more numbers, we have
to write 10 lines of the same code. Now imagine, if we write these 10 lines of
codes somewhere and name then as SUM and whenever require we can call
SUM and which in turn will call those 10 lines of programming codes and we can
avoid writing 10 lines of codes again and again.
We need to modify the definition of Function again.
The definition of Function should be like, “Functions are
predefined formulas which are set of programming codes to evaluate some
calculations using arguments which may be or may not be required.”
One more thing about functions, there are two types of
Functions; inbuilt which comes with any application, like Excel and can
also be created using programming tools like C, C++, JAVA etc. In Excel, Functions can be created using VBA
coding which we will learn soon.
Example of function which takes arguments are SUM(),
COUNT(), IF() etc. and example of functions which may not require arguments in
excel are TIME(), NOW(), DATE() etc.
I hope I am able to make you understand what function is.
Thank you for reading. Happy learning.
