What are the differences between a standard function and a function embedded in code for efficiency improvement?

A standard function is a regular function defined separately and called by name. An inline function, embedded directly in the code, is typically used to improve efficiency by eliminating the overhead of a function call.

Main differences:

• Standard function: calling it involves jumping to the function's address, which takes time for stack operations.
• Inline function: the compiler inserts the function's body directly at the call site, reducing overhead and potentially improving performance.

Example in Kotlin (Android):

inline fun measureTime(block: () -> Unit) {
    val start = System.currentTimeMillis()
    block()
    val end = System.currentTimeMillis()
    println("Execution time: ${end - start} ms")
}

// Usage
measureTime {
    // code whose execution time needs to be measured
}

Thus, inline functions are useful for small, frequently called functions, especially with lambdas, to avoid creating additional objects and calls.