---
layout: docs
page_title: Functions - Configuration Language
sidebar_title: Functions
description: |-
  The HCL language has a number of built-in functions that can be called
  from within expressions to transform and combine values.
---

# Built-in Functions

-> **Note:** This page is about HCL2 in Packer 1.5 and later. HCL2 support for
Packer is still in Beta. For the old-style stable configuration language see
[template docs](/docs/templates).

The HCL language includes a number of built-in functions that you can
call from within expressions to transform and combine values. The general
syntax for function calls is a function name followed by comma-separated
arguments in parentheses:

```hcl
max(5, 12, 9)
```

For more details on syntax, see
[_Function Calls_](/docs/from-1.5/expressions#function-calls)
on the Expressions page.

The HCL language does not support user-defined functions, and so only
the functions built in to the language are available for use. The navigation
for this section includes a list of all of the available built-in functions.