What does "parameter" mean in programming?

parameter is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

A named variable in a function's definition that receives a value when the function is called. Parameters are placeholders; arguments are the actual values. For example, in function greet(name), name is the parameter.

Example

"The function has two parameters: userId and includeDeleted."

Related terms

argument
function
method
return value
variable

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