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Functions are central to Go programming. They allow you to organize code into reusable blocks that perform specific tasks.

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Basic Function Syntax

In Go, functions are defined using the func keyword, followed by the function name, parameters, return type, and body. 
func plus(a int, b int) int {
    return a + b
}
This function:
  • Takes two parameters a and b, both of type int
  • Returns a single int value
  • Uses an explicit return statement
Go requires explicit returns. Unlike some languages, Go won’t automatically return the value of the last expression.

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Parameter Type Shorthand

When multiple consecutive parameters share the same type, you can omit the type name for all but the final parameter: 
// Instead of: func plusPlus(a int, b int, c int) int
func plusPlus(a, b, c int) int {
    return a + b + c
}
This shorthand syntax makes function signatures more concise while maintaining clarity.

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Calling Functions

Functions are called using the familiar name(args) syntax: 
func main() {
    res := plus(1, 2)
    fmt.Println("1+2 =", res)
    // Output: 1+2 = 3

    res = plusPlus(1, 2, 3)
    fmt.Println("1+2+3 =", res)
    // Output: 1+2+3 = 6
}

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Complete Example

package main

import "fmt"

// Basic function with two parameters
func plus(a int, b int) int {
    return a + b
}

// Function with parameter type shorthand
func plusPlus(a, b, c int) int {
    return a + b + c
}

func main() {
    res := plus(1, 2)
    fmt.Println("1+2 =", res)

    res = plusPlus(1, 2, 3)
    fmt.Println("1+2+3 =", res)
}

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Best Practices

Choose names that clearly describe what the function does. Use camelCase for unexported functions and PascalCase for exported functions.
Each function should do one thing well. If a function is doing too much, consider breaking it into smaller functions.
Go requires explicit return statements, which makes code more readable and less prone to errors.

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Key Takeaways

  • Functions are defined with the func keyword
  • Parameter types can be shared using shorthand syntax
  • Go requires explicit return statements
  • Functions are called using standard name(args) syntax

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