Member Function vs. Member Procedure

Attribute	Member Function	Member Procedure
Definition	A member function is a function that is a member of a class and has access to the class's data.	A member procedure is a procedure that is a member of a class and has access to the class's data.
Return Type	Can return a value or void.	Can return a value or void.
Access Level	Can be public, private, or protected.	Can be public, private, or protected.
Usage	Used to perform operations on class data.	Used to perform operations on class data.

Definition

Member functions and member procedures are both components of object-oriented programming languages, such as C++ and Java. Member functions are functions that are associated with a specific class and can access the data within that class. They are used to perform operations on the data members of the class. Member procedures, on the other hand, are similar to member functions but are used in languages like Visual Basic. They are also associated with a specific class and can access the data within that class, but they are used to perform a series of actions rather than returning a value.

Return Type

One key difference between member functions and member procedures is the return type. Member functions can return a value, which can be used in other parts of the program. This allows for more flexibility in how the function is used. Member procedures, on the other hand, do not return a value. They are used solely for their side effects, such as modifying the data members of the class or performing some other action.

Usage

Member functions are commonly used in object-oriented programming to encapsulate the behavior of an object. They can be called by other parts of the program to perform specific tasks on the object's data. Member procedures, on the other hand, are used in languages like Visual Basic to define a series of actions that can be performed on an object. They are often used in event-driven programming to respond to user input or other events.

Access to Data

Both member functions and member procedures have access to the data members of the class they are associated with. This allows them to manipulate the data in the class and perform operations on it. Member functions can also access private data members of the class, as they are considered part of the class itself. Member procedures, on the other hand, may have limited access to private data members depending on the language and how they are defined.

Visibility

Member functions are typically public by default, meaning they can be accessed from outside the class. This allows other parts of the program to call the function and perform operations on the object. Member procedures, on the other hand, may have different visibility depending on the language. In Visual Basic, for example, member procedures can be public, private, or protected, which determines who can access them.

Overloading

Member functions can be overloaded, meaning you can have multiple functions with the same name but different parameters. This allows for more flexibility in how the function is used and can make the code more readable. Member procedures, on the other hand, may not support overloading depending on the language. In Visual Basic, for example, procedures cannot be overloaded, so you would need to use different names for each procedure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, member functions and member procedures are both important components of object-oriented programming languages. Member functions are used to encapsulate the behavior of an object and can return a value, while member procedures are used to define a series of actions that can be performed on an object. Both have access to the data members of the class they are associated with, but member functions are typically public by default and can be overloaded. Understanding the differences between member functions and member procedures can help you choose the right tool for the job in your programming projects.