Functions

Functions are the building blocks of Fe programs. They encapsulate reusable logic and provide structure to your code.

Function Declaration

Declare a function using the fn keyword:

fn greet() {
    // function body
}

A function with parameters and a return type:

fn add(a: u256, b: u256) -> u256 {
    a + b
}

Parameters

Basic Parameters

Parameters are declared with a name and type:

fn process(value: u256, flag: bool) {
    // use value and flag
}

Labeled Parameters

Fe supports labeled parameters for improved call-site clarity. A label is the name used when calling the function, while the parameter name is used inside the function body:

fn transfer(sender: u256, recipient: u256, amount: u256) {
    // Inside the function, use: sender, recipient, amount
}

// At the call site, use the labels:
transfer(sender: alice, recipient: bob, amount: 100)

This makes function calls self-documenting and reduces errors when functions have multiple parameters of the same type.

Unlabeled Parameters with _

Use _ as the label when you don’t want to require a label at the call site:

fn square(_ x: u256) -> u256 {
    x * x
}

// Call without a label:
let result = square(5)

You can mix labeled and unlabeled parameters:

fn create_point(_ x: u256, _ y: u256, named: bool) -> Point {
    // x and y are positional, named requires a label
}

// Call:
create_point(10, 20, named: true)

Mutable Parameters

Use mut to declare a parameter that can be modified within the function:

fn increment(mut value: own u256) -> u256 {
    value = value + 1
    value
}

Note that this creates a mutable local copy; it doesn’t modify the caller’s variable.

The self Receiver

Functions that operate on a type instance use self as their first parameter, making them methods:

struct Counter {
    value: u256,
}

impl Counter {
    // Method with immutable self - can read but not modify
    fn get(self) -> u256 {
        self.value
    }

    // Method that returns an updated counter
    fn increment(self) -> Self {
        Counter { value: self.value + 1 }
    }
}

Methods are called using dot notation:

let mut counter = Counter { value: 0 }
counter = counter.increment()
let current = counter.get()

Self Variations

Receiver	Description
self	Immutable access to the instance
mut self	Mutable access to the instance

Return Types

Specify a return type with -> after the parameters:

fn calculate(x: u256) -> u256 {
    x * 2
}

Implicit Returns

The last expression in a function is implicitly returned (without a semicolon):

fn double(x: u256) -> u256 {
    x * 2  // implicitly returned
}

Explicit Returns

Use return for early returns or explicit clarity:

fn abs(x: i256) -> i256 {
    if x < 0 {
        return -x
    }
    x
}

Functions Without Return Values

Functions without -> return the unit type (similar to void in other languages):

fn log_value(value: u256) {
    // no return value
}

Visibility

Functions are private by default, accessible only within their module.

Public Functions

Use pub to make a function accessible from other modules:

pub fn public_function() {
    // accessible from other modules
}

fn private_function() {
    // only accessible within this module
}

Functions and Contracts

In Fe, contracts cannot contain regular functions. Contracts only have:

• Storage fields for state
• An init block for initialization
• recv blocks for handling incoming messages

Functions are defined separately, either as free-floating functions or as methods on structs. Code inside recv blocks can call these external functions:

// Free-floating helper function
fn calculate_fee(amount: u256) -> u256 {
    amount / 100
}

// Helper struct with methods
struct TokenLogic {}

impl TokenLogic {
    pub fn validate_transfer(self, amount: u256) -> bool {
        amount > 0
    }
}

contract MyToken {
    mut store: Storage,

    recv TransferMsg {
        Transfer { to, amount } -> bool uses (mut store) {
            // Call free-floating function
            let fee = calculate_fee(amount)

            // Recv block handles the message
            true
        }
    }
}

This separation keeps contracts focused on state and message handling, while logic lives in reusable functions and structs.

Generic Functions

Functions can be generic over types using angle brackets:

fn identity<T>(value: own T) -> T {
    value
}

With trait bounds:

fn print_value<T: Display>(value: T) {
    // T must implement Display
}

For comprehensive coverage of generics and trait bounds, see the Traits & Generics section.

Functions with Effects

Fe uses an effect system to track side effects. Functions declare their effects with the uses clause:

fn read_storage() uses (storage: Storage) {
    // can read from storage
}

fn write_storage() uses (storage: mut Storage) {
    // can read and write to storage
}

For comprehensive coverage of effects, see the Effects section.

Summary

Feature	Syntax	Example
Basic function	fn name() { }	fn greet() { }
With parameters	fn name(a: T) { }	fn add(x: u256) { }
With return type	fn name() -> T { }	fn get() -> u256 { }
Labeled parameter	label name: T	from sender: u256
Unlabeled parameter	_ name: T	_ x: u256
Mutable parameter	mut name: T	mut count: u256
Method (immutable)	fn name(self)	fn get(self) -> u256
Method (mutable)	fn name(mut self)	fn set(mut self, v: u256)
Public function	pub fn name()	pub fn api() { }
Generic function	fn name<T>()	fn id<T>(x: T) -> T
With effects	fn name() uses E	fn read() uses Storage