What's the difference between an argument and a parameter?

Question

When verbally talking about methods, I'm never sure whether to use the word argument or parameter or something else. Either way the other people know what I mean, but what's correct, and what's the history of the terms?

I'm a C# programmer, but I also wonder whether people use different terms in different languages.

For the record I'm self-taught without a background in Computer Science. (Please don't tell me to read Code Complete because I'm asking this for the benefit of other people who don't already have a copy of Steve McConnell's marvellous book.)

Summary

The general consensus seems to be that it's OK to use these terms interchangeably in a team environment. Except perhaps when you're defining the precise terminology; then you can also use "formal argument/parameter" and "actual argument/parameter" to disambiguate.

Answer 1

A parameter is a variable in a method definition. When a method is called, the arguments are the data you pass into the method's parameters.

public void MyMethod(string myParam) { }

...

string myArg1 = "this is my argument";
myClass.MyMethod(myArg1);

Answer 2

Parameter is variable in the declaration of function.

Argument is the actual value of this variable that gets passed to function.

Answer 3

Simple:

• PARAMETER → PLACEHOLDER (This means a placeholder belongs to the function naming and be used in the function body)
• ARGUMENT → ACTUAL VALUE (This means an actual value which is passed by the function calling)

Answer 4

There is already a Wikipedia entry on the subject (see Parameter) that defines and distinguishes the terms parameter and argument. In short, a parameter is part of the function/procedure/method signature and an argument is the actual value supplied at run-time and/or call-site for the parameter.

The Wikipedia article also states that the two terms are often used synonymously (especially when reasoning about code informally):

Although parameters are also commonly referred to as arguments, arguments are more properly thought of as the actual values or references assigned to the parameter variables when the subroutine is called at runtime.

Given the following example function in C that adds two integers, x and y would be referred to as its parameters:

int add(int x, int y) {
    return x + y;
}

At a call-site using add, such as the example shown below, 123 and 456 would be referred to as the arguments of the call.

int result = add(123, 456);

Also, some language specifications (or formal documentation) choose to use parameter or argument exclusively and use adjectives like formal and actual instead to disambiguate between the two cases. For example, C/C++ documentation often refers to function parameters as formal arguments and function call arguments as actual arguments. For an example, see “Formal and Actual Arguments” in the Visual C++ Language Reference.

Answer 5

Parameter is variable in the declaration of function.

Argument is the actual value of this variable that gets passed to function.

Answer 6

A parameter is something you have to fill in when you call a function. What you put in it is the argument.

Simply set: the argument goes into the parameter, an argument is the value of the parameter.

A bit more info on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parameter_(computer_science)#Parameters_and_arguments

Answer 7

The use of the terms parameters and arguments have been misused somewhat among programmers and even authors. When dealing with methods, the term parameter is used to identify the placeholders in the method signature, whereas the term arguments are the actual values that you pass in to the method.

MCSD Cerfification Toolkit (Exam 70-483) Programming in C#, 1st edition, Wrox, 2013

Real-world case scenario

// Define a method with two parameters
int Sum(int num1, int num2)
{
   return num1 + num2;
}

// Call the method using two arguments
var ret = Sum(2, 3);

Answer 8

In editing, I'm often put off at how people forget: structure languages are based on natural languages.

In English

A "parameter" is a placeholder. They set the response format, in spoken language. By definition, it's party to the call, limiting the response.

An "argument" is a position that is being considered. You argue your opinion: you consider an argument.

Main difference

The thematic role of an argument is agent. The thematic role of parameter is recipient.

Interactions

Think of the argument as the male part, making the parameter the female part. The argument goes into the parameter.

Usage

A parameter is usually used in definitions. An argument is usually used in invocations.

Questions

Finish the sentence to make it less dissonant.

(A) Speaking of a definition:

1. What argument will be used []?
2. What [] will this parameter []?

(B) Speaking of an invocation:

1. What parameter will you use, []?
2. What [] will be [] this parameter?

Answers

(A)

1. on/in/against/with this parameter
2. argument(s) ... take

(B)

1. and what are some example arguments
2. argument(s) ... used on/in/against/with

Overlaps

As you can imagine, after answering: in spoken language, these words will sometimes produce identical responses!

So, as a rule:

• Usually if someone wants parameter information, they want to know more about the type, the variable name, etc. They may become confused if you only give example arguments.

  • Usually if someone wants argument information, they want to know what value you passed to a function or its parameter(s).

Answer 9

This example might help.

int main () {
   int x = 5; 
   int y = 4;

   sum(x, y); // **x and y are arguments**
}

int sum(int one, int two) { // **one and two are parameters**
   return one + two;
}

Answer 10

Or may be its even simpler to remember like this, in case of optional arguments for a method:

public void Method(string parameter = "argument") 
{

}

parameter is the parameter, its value, "argument" is the argument :)

Answer 11

Always Remember that:- Arguments are passed while parameters are recieved.

Answer 12

The parameters of a function/method describe to you the values that it uses to calculate its result.

The arguments of a function are the values assigned to these parameters during a particular call of the function/method.

Answer 13

Let's say you're an airline. You build an airplane. You install seats in it. Then, you fill the plane up with passengers and send it somewhere. The passengers (or rather, some spatio-temporally altered version thereof) disembark. Next day, you re-use the same plane, and same seats, but with different passengers this time.

The plane is your function.

The parameters are the seats.

The arguments are the passengers that go in those seats.

function fly(seat1, seat2) {
    seat1.sayMyName();
    // Estraven
    seat2.sayMyName();

    etc.
}

var passenger1 = "Estraven";
var passenger2 = "Genly Ai";

fly(passenger1, passenger2); 

Answer 14

Parameters and Arguments

All the different terms that have to do with parameters and arguments can be confusing. However, if you keep a few simple points in mind, you will be able to easily handle these terms.

1. The formal parameters for a function are listed in the function declaration and are used in the body of the function definition. A formal parameter (of any sort) is a kind of blank or placeholder that is filled in with something when the function is called.
2. An argument is something that is used to fill in a formal parameter. When you write down a function call, the arguments are listed in parentheses after the function name. When the function call is executed, the arguments are plugged in for the formal parameters.
3. The terms call-by-value and call-by-reference refer to the mechanism that is used in the plugging-in process. In the call-by-value method only the value of the argument is used. In this call-by-value mechanism, the formal parameter is a local variable that is initialized to the value of the corresponding argument. In the call-by-reference mechanism the argument is a variable and the entire variable is used. In the call- by-reference mechanism the argument variable is substituted for the formal parameter so that any change that is made to the formal parameter is actually made to the argument variable.

Source: Absolute C++, Walter Savitch

That is,

Answer 15

The terms are somewhat interchangeable. The distinction described in other answers is more properly expressed with the terms formal parameter for the name used inside the body of the function and parameter for the value supplied at the call site (formal argument and argument are also common).

Also note that, in mathematics, the term argument is far more common and parameter usually means something quite different (though the parameter in a parametric equation is essentially the argument to two or more functions).

Answer 16

An argument is an instantiation of a parameter.

Answer 17

Yes! Parameters and Arguments have different meanings, which can be easily explained as follows:

Function Parameters are the names listed in the function definition.

Function Arguments are the real values passed to (and received by) the function.

Answer 18

Simple Explanations without code

A "parameter" is a very general, broad thing, but an "argument: is a very specific, concrete thing. This is best illustrated via everyday examples:

Example 1: Vending Machines - Money is the parameter, $2.00 is the argument

Most machines take an input and return an output. For example a vending machine takes as an input: money, and returns: fizzy drinks as the output. In that particular case, it accepts as a parameter: money.

What then is the argument? Well if I put $2.00 into the machine, then the argument is: $2.00 - it is the very specific input used.

Example 2: Cars - Petrol is the parameter

Let's consider a car: they accept petrol (unleaded gasoline) as an input. It can be said that these machines accept parameters of type: petrol. The argument would be the exact and concrete input I put into my car. e.g. In my case, the argument would be: 40 litres of unleaded petrol/gasoline.

Example 3 - Elaboration on Arguments

An argument is a particular and specific example of an input. Suppose my machine takes a person as an input and turns them into someone who isn't a liar.

What then is an argument? The argument will be the particular person who is actually put into the machine. e.g. if Colin Powell is put into the machine then the argument would be Colin Powell.

So the parameter would be a person as an abstract concept, but the argument would always be a particular person with a particular name who is put into the machine. The argument is specific and concrete.

That's the difference. Simple.

Confused?

Post a comment and I'll fix up the explanation.

Answer 19

Generally speaking, the terms parameter and argument are used interchangeably to mean information that is passed into a function.

Yet, from a function's perspective:

• A parameter is the variable listed inside the parentheses in the function definition.
• An argument is the value that is sent to the function when it is called.

Answer 20

Or even simpler...

Arguments in !

Parameters out !

Answer 21

They both dont have much difference in usage in C, both the terms are used in practice. Mostly arguments are often used with functions. The value passed with the function calling statement is called the argument, And the parameter would be the variable which copies the value in the function definition (called as formal parameter).

int main ()
{
   /* local variable definition */
   int a = 100;
   int b = 200;
   int ret;

   /* calling a function to get max value */
   ret = max(a, b);

   printf( "Max value is : %d\n", ret );

   return 0;
}

/* function returning the max between two numbers */
int max(int num1, int num2) 
{
   /* local variable declaration */
   int result;

   if (num1 > num2)
      result = num1;
   else
      result = num2;

   return result; 
}

In the above code num1 and num2 are formal parameters and a and b are actual arguments.

Answer 22

Oracle's Java tutorials define this distinction thusly: "Parameters refers to the list of variables in a method declaration. Arguments are the actual values that are passed in when the method is invoked. When you invoke a method, the arguments used must match the declaration's parameters in type and order."

A more detailed discussion of parameters and arguments: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/arguments.html

Answer 23

Logically speaking,we're actually talking about the same thing. But I think a simple metaphor would be helpful to solve this dilemma.

If the metaphors can be called various connection point we can equate them to plug points on a wall. In this case we can consider parameters and arguments as follows;

Parameters are the sockets of the plug-point which may take various different shapes. But only certain types of plugs fit them.
Arguments will be the actual plugs that would be plugged into the plug points/sockets to activate certain equipments.

Answer 24

Parameter is a variable in a function definition
Argument is a value of parameter

<?php

    /* define function */
    function myFunction($parameter1, $parameter2)
    {
        echo "This is value of paramater 1: {$parameter1} <br />";
        echo "This is value of paramater 2: {$parameter2} <br />";
    }

    /* call function with arguments*/
    myFunction(1, 2);

?>

Answer 25

When we create the method (function) in Java, the method like this..

data-type name of the method (data-type variable-name)

In the parenthesis, these are the parameters, and when we call the method (function) we pass the value of this parameter, which are called the arguments.

Answer 26

According to Joseph's Alabahari book "C# in a Nutshell" (C# 7.0, p. 49) :

static void Foo (int x)
{
    x = x + 1; // When you're talking in context of this method x is parameter
    Console.WriteLine (x);
}
static void Main()
{
    Foo (8); // an argument of 8. 
             // When you're talking from the outer scope point of view
}

In some human languages (afaik Italian, Russian) synonyms are widely used for these terms.

• parameter = formal parameter
• argument = actual parameter

In my university professors use both kind of names.

Answer 27

As my background and main environment is C, I will provide some statements/citations to that topic from the actual C standard and an important reference book, from also one of the developers of C, which is often cited and common treated as the first unofficial standard of C:

---

The C Programming Language (2nd Edition) by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie (April 1988):

Page 25, Section 1.7 - Functions

We will generally use parameter for a variable named in the parenthesized list in a function definition, and argument for the value used in the call of the function. The terms formal argument and actual argument are sometimes used for the same distinction.

ISO/IEC 9899:2018 (C18):

3.3

argument

actual argument

DEPRECATED: actual parameter

expression in the comma-separated list bounded by the parentheses in a function call expression, or a sequence of preprocessing tokens in the comma-separated list bounded by the parentheses in a function-like macro invocation.

---

3.16

parameter

formal parameter

DEPRECATED: formal argument

object declared as part of a function declaration or definition that acquires a value on entry to the function, or an identifier from the comma-separated list bounded by the parentheses immediately following the macro name in a function-like macro definition.

Answer 28

Parameters are the variables received by a function.Hence they are visible in function declaration.They contain the variable name with their data type. Arguments are actual values which are passed to another function. thats why we can see them in function call. They are just values without their datatype

Answer 29

The formal parameters for a function are listed in the function declaration and are used in the body of the function definition. A formal parameter (of any sort) is a kind of blank or placeholder that is filled in with something when the function is called.

An argument is something that is used to fill in a formal parameter. When you write down a function call, the arguments are listed in parentheses after the function name. When the function call is executed, the arguments are plugged in for the formal parameters.

The terms call-by-value and call-by-reference refer to the mechanism that is used in the plugging-in process. In the call-by-value method only the value of the argument is used. In this call-by-value mechanism, the formal parameter is a local variable that is initialized to the value of the corresponding argument. In the call-by-reference mechanism the argument is a variable and the entire variable is used. In the call- by-reference mechanism the argument variable is substituted for the formal parameter so that any change that is made to the formal parameter is actually made to the argument variable.

Answer 30

Parameters are variables that are used to store the data that's passed into a function for the function to use. Arguments are the actual data that's passed into a function when it is invoked:

// x and y are parameters in this function declaration
function add(x, y) {
  // function body
  var sum = x + y;
  return sum; // return statement
}

// 1 and 2 are passed into the function as arguments
var sum = add(1, 2);