Hey everyone, I'm a computer science student trying to get better at coding. I've been going back to basics, and I've got a bit confused about the terms 'parameters' and 'arguments' in Python. Can someone clarify the difference between these two?
2 Answers
In simple terms, parameters are the names you define in the function when you set it up. For example, in a function like `def say_hello(name):`, `name` is the parameter. Arguments, on the other hand, are the actual values you pass when you call the function, like `say_hello("shadow_swamper")`, where "shadow_swamper" is the argument being passed.
I heard that parameters and arguments are often used interchangeably, but I’m not totally sure that’s correct. Could they be different based on the context? I feel like it’s not a huge deal as long as you get how to use them, right?
You're right; some folks do mix them up! But generally speaking, terms can be context-dependent. You can get by without worrying too much about the exact definitions as long as you understand how to use them both!
Exactly! So parameters are like the empty boxes waiting to be filled, and arguments are what you actually put into those boxes when you call the function.