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What does "reference" mean in programming?
reference 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
Documentation that lists all available functions, methods, parameters, and return values of a library or API. Reference docs are meant for lookup, not for learning. Developers consult them when they know what they need.
Example
"Check the API reference to find the exact parameter names for the search endpoint."
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