function

1. A named collection of statements defined to perform an application task, often one which needs to be repeated. Functions can be defined to accept arguments and to return values. Within 4GL, the following functions exist: programmer-defined function--function written in 4GL by the developer; C function--written in C by the developer; ESQL/C function--function built into the INFORMIX-ESQL/C product for use in a C program written by the developer; 4GL built-in function--written by Informix as part of the 4GL language to enable the developer to perform specific tasks within 4GL; built-in SQL function--written as part of the SQL access language.

See also argument, built-in function, programmer-defined function, return value, SQL, statement.

2. A 4GL function (program block defined with the FUNCTION statement) is often referred to simply as a function.

See also 4GL function.