In a program, you sometimes need to create multiple tasks, with each task having a sequence of code blocks. For example, a "Get Ready for Bed" program might include "Brush Your Teeth", "Change Your Clothes", and "Go to Bed" tasks.

In programming a "function" is a module of code (usually with multiple code blocks) that performs a task. Functions allow you to divide programs into their various tasks, making it easier to create and manage large programs. The idea is similar to dividing an essay into paragraphs to make it easier to read, but with one key difference: a function may be used multiple times within a program. So if you have some code in a program that is repeated two or more times, it makes sense to make it into a function.

There are two steps to using functions. First, we must define (or "declare") the function by giving it a name and putting some code blocks inside it. Second, when we want to have RoboBlocky execute the code in the function, we "call" the function, referring to it by its name.

In RoboBlocky the code blocks to define and call functions are found in the Functions menu (the default name for a function is "do something", but we give each function its own unique and descriptive name):

The do something block has an audio button that will speak the name of the function ("do something" in this case):

Watch the video to find out more about defining and calling functions.