Video coding devices and methods use a function-based definition of scan order to scan transform coefficients associated with a block of residual video data. A video coder may define a scan order for coefficients based on a predefined function and one or more parameter values. A video encoder may use a function-based scan order to scan a two-dimensional array of coefficients to produce a one-dimensional array of coefficients for use in producing encoded video data. The video encoder may signal the parameters to a video decoder, or the video decoder may infer one or more of the parameters. The video decoder may use the function-based scan order to scan a one-dimensional array of coefficients to reproduce the two-dimensional array of coefficients for use in producing decoded video data. In each case, the scan order may vary according to the parameter values, which may include block size, orientation, and/or orientation strength.