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?
3 Answers
To put it another way, parameters are placeholders you define in your function, while arguments are the values you give that function when you use it. For instance, in defining a function named `myFunc(num1, num2)`, `num1` and `num2` are parameters. When you call it like `myFunc(3, 12)`, then 3 and 12 are the arguments you're passing in.
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.
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.
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! It’s all about the context. During definition, everything is about parameters, and when you actually use it, you deal with arguments.