I know that a parameter is a variable passed to a function and gives value to the argument in the function, but I'm having trouble understanding:
What is the main difference between "arguments" and "parameters" in javascript?
6 Answers
The parameters are the aliases for the values that will be passed to the function. The arguments are the actual values.
var foo = function( a, b, c ) {}; // a, b, and c are the parameters
foo( 1, 2, 3 ); // 1, 2, and 3 are the arguments
4 Comments
Daniel Kaplan
If you called
foo like foo( x, y, z), are x, y, and z the arguments or are the values of x, y, and z the arguments? I don't know if the answer is important, I'm just curious.
David G
@DanielKaplan The variables are the same as their values. Calling
foo(x, y, z) is the same as foo(1, 2, 3) for instance.Daniel Kaplan
Sorry, my question wasn't clear. I was asking about the appropriate terminology, specifically about the term "argument" in this context. When you call a function by passing in variables, are the variable names the "arguments" or the "variable values"?
David G
@DanielKaplan The variable names are the arguments.
When you define a function, the variables that represent the values that will be passed to it for processing are called parameters. For example, the following function definition has one parameter called $number:
function doubleIt($number) {
return $number *= 2;
}
However, when you use a function, the value you pass to it is called an argument. So, in the following case, $price is passed as the argument to doubleIt():
$price = 50;
$inflated_price = doubleIt($price); // 100
answered Oct 13, 2012 at 15:21
Mayank K. Swami
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1 Comment
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What do you mean by "the parameters are what are used inside the function"?
parameters (if any) define the method signature. Arguments are values passed into a function.
But same difference I guess.
void function(int param1, string param2) //defines the types the function must receive.
function(1, "Hello World") 1 and "Hello World" are passed as arguments. The parameter receives (if you like) the argument.
It is explained well here
2 Comments
No Results Found
I thought those words meant the same thing, maybe you can clarify with an example?
Lews Therin
@WesleyMurch Not really. Look at the link in my answer.
Parameters are properties of a function.
Arguments are properties of a particular call to a function.
In javascript, if you don't give a number of arguments equal to the number of parameters, the extra come across as undefined.
function f(a,b,c) // 3 parameters
f(1) // 1 argument given; inside the function f, a will be 1, and b and c will be undefined
Comments
13 Function Definition
Syntax
FunctionDeclaration : function Identifier ( FormalParameterList (opt) ) { FunctionBody } FunctionExpression : function Identifieropt ( FormalParameterList (opt) ) { FunctionBody } FormalParameterList : Identifier FormalParameterList , Identifier FunctionBody : SourceElements (opt)
Officially they are called parameters, but the actual arguments are given in the same called object. However, both words are interchangeable.
Comments
so parameters works just like a place holder for your arguments when you going to call the function to give it a value you will give the function a value and that value stored in the place of parameter1 and parameter2
function add (parameter1 , parameter2 ) {
return parameter1 + parameter2;
}
add(10 (argument 1), 20 (argument2 ))
Comments
argumentsalso. have a look.