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What is the difference between parameter and argument?

parameter | argument |

Argument is a synonym of parameter.



In programming terms the difference between parameter and argument

is that parameter is an actual value given to such a formal parameter (argument or actual parameter) while argument is A parameter in a function definition; an actual parameter, as opposed to a formal parameter.

As nouns the difference between parameter and argument

is that parameter is a variable kept constant during an experiment, calculation or similar while argument is a fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.

parameter

English

Alternative forms

* parametre

Noun

(en noun)
  • (mathematics, physics) A variable kept constant during an experiment, calculation or similar.
  • (programming) An input variable of a procedure definition, that gets an actual value (argument) at execution time (formal parameter) .
  • Roughly, a tuple of arguments could be thought of as a vector, whereas a tuple of parameters''' could be thought of as a covector (i.e., linear functional). When a function is called, a '''parameter tuple becomes "bound" to an argument tuple, allowing the function instance itself to be computed to yield a return value. This would be roughly analogous to applying a covector to a vector (by taking their dot product (or, rather, matrix-product of row vector and column vector)) to obtain a scalar.
  • (programming) An actual value given to such a formal parameter (argument or actual parameter) .
  • A characteristic or feature that distinguishes something from others.
  • (geometry) In the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.
  • The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum.
  • (crystallography) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane.
  • (crystallography) The fundamental axial ratio for a given species.
  • Usage notes

    * (the value used to instantiate the name) Some authors regard use of parameter'' to mean ''argument'' as imprecise, preferring that ''parameter'' refers only to the name that will be instantiated, and ''argument to refer to the value that will be supplied to it at runtime.

    Synonyms

    * (value passed to a function) argument * (characteristic distinguishing something from others) distinguishing feature * See also

    Derived terms

    * actual parameter * formal parameter

    See also

    * variable

    argument

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.
  • * Ray
  • There is no more palpable and convincing argument of the existence of a Deity.
  • A verbal dispute; a quarrel.
  • A process of reasoning.
  • * John Locke
  • The argument is not about things, but names.
  • (philosophy, logic) A series of propositions organized so that the final proposition is a conclusion which is intended to follow logically from the preceding propositions, which function as premises.
  • *
  • (mathematics) The independent variable of a function.
  • (programming) A value, or reference to a value, passed to a function.
  • * {{quote-web, date = 2011-07-20
  • , author = Edwin Mares , title = Propositional Functions , site = The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy , url = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2011/entries/propositional-function , accessdate = 2012-07-15 }}
    In ‘The Critic of Arguments’ (1892), Peirce adopts a notion that is even closer to that of a propositional function. There he develops the concept of the ‘rhema’. He says the rhema is like a relative term, but it is not a term. It contains a copula, that is, when joined to the correct number of arguments it produces an assertion. For example, ‘__ is bought by __ from __ for __’ is a four-place rhema. Applying it to four objects a'', ''b'', ''c'', and ''d'' produces the assertion that ''a'' is bought by ''b'' from ''c'' for ''d (ibid. 420).
    Parameters are like labeled fillable blanks used to define a function whereas arguments are passed to a function when calling it, filling in those blanks.
  • (programming) A parameter in a function definition; an actual parameter, as opposed to a formal parameter.
  • (linguistics) Any of the phrases that bears a syntactic connection to the verb of a clause.
  • *
  • In numerous works over the past two decades, beginning with the pioneering work of Gruber (1965), Fillmore (1968a), and Jackendoff (1972), it has been argued that each Argument' (i.e. Subject or Complement) of a Predicate bears a particular ''thematic role'' (alias ''theta-role'', or ''θ-role'' to its Predicate), and that the set of ''thematic functions'' which ' Arguments can fulfil are drawn from a highly restricted, finite, universal set.
  • (astronomy) The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends.
  • The altitude is the argument of the refraction.
  • The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem.
  • * Shakespeare
  • You and love are still my argument .
  • * Jeffrey
  • the abstract or argument of the piece
  • * Milton
  • [shields] with boastful argument portrayed
  • Matter for question; business in hand.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Sheathed their swords for lack of argument .

    Usage notes

    * (formal parameter in a function definition) Some authors regard use of "argument" to mean "formal parameter" to be imprecise, preferring that argument'' refers only to the value that is used to instantiate the ''parameter'' at runtime, while ''parameter refers only to the name in the function definition that will be instantiated.

    Synonyms

    * (programming value) actual argument * See also * See also

    Meronyms

    * (logic) proposition, premise, conclusion

    Derived terms

    * ad hominem argument * argumentable * argumental * argumentation * argumentative * argumentatively * argumentativeness * argument form * argument from design * argumentive * argumentize * argumentless * cosmological argument * etymological argument * ontological argument * teleological argument