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Software Engineering vocabulary · Programming Concepts

Parameter

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/pəˈræmɪtər/nounCommon term

In software engineering, parameter means: A named input that a function or method accepts, listed in its definition. The actual value you pass in when you call it is called the argument.

In Turkish: parametre

How it is used

Functions take, accept and require parameters. You also hear 'query parameters' in URLs (?page=2) and 'optional parameter' or 'default parameter' in reviews.

Example sentences

  1. This function takes six parameters. Can we pass an options object instead?

  2. The page size is a query parameter, and it defaults to 20.

Common collocations

  • take a parameter
  • optional parameter
  • query parameter
  • default parameter
  • pass a parameter
  • functionA named block of code that does one job. It can take input values, and it often returns a result to the code that called it.
  • callTo make a function, method or API run from another part of the code. As a noun, 'a call' is one such request, for example 'an API call'.
  • variableA name in a program that stores a value, such as a number, text or list, so that the code can use or change that value later.
  • endpointA specific URL of an API that accepts requests for one kind of action, such as GET /users to list users or POST /orders to create an order.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Programming Concepts

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