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

Answer 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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