Dominant function

In harmony, a chord is said to have a dominant function if it feels like it wants to go to a chord with tonic function.¹

In diatonic music the following chords have a dominant function are:

$V$ $V$ ¹²
- especially $V^7$
$VII°^6$ $V I I °^{6}$
- When going to a tonic harmony²
- Some write that $VII°$ always has dominant function regardless of inversion¹
$VII°^7$ $V I I °^{7}$
- All inversions – when going to a tonic harmony²
$IIIm$ $I I I m$
- Sometimes functions as a substitute, e.g. in the progression $IIIm - I$ ²
$I^6_4$ $I_{4}^{6}$ ²
- This acts as an embellishment of $V$ , so the progression would be $I^6_4$ - $V$ - $I$ – also see cadential 6-4