Question

When only a copy of an argument is passed to a function, it is said to be passed by _________.

Short answer

Question: When only a copy of an argument is passed to a function, it is said to be passed by _____. Answer: value

Step-by-step solution

Understand the concept

When a function receives only a copy of an argument and not the original, it is said to be "passed by value". In this case, any changes made to the argument within the function will not affect the original variable outside of the function.

Fill in the blank

Now that we understand the concept, we can fill in the blank by providing the correct term. The answer to this exercise is: When only a copy of an argument is passed to a function, it is said to be passed by "value".

Key concepts

Pass by Value

When a function is using "pass by value," it means the function gets a copy of the variable's value. This is quite similar to copying a piece of paper with important information on it.

The original document remains unchanged, same with variables – the original value outside the function stays the same.

Here's what you need to know about pass by value:

• The function works with a copy of the original data.
• Changes made to the variable in the function do not alter the actual data outside the function.
• Pass by value ensures that the original data remains safe and unchanged.

Using pass by value is great when you want to protect the original data from being changed by accident.

Function Arguments

Function arguments are the pieces of information that you pass to a function to work with. Think of them as ingredients for a recipe.
If you're making cookies, the ingredients (arguments) are passed to the recipe (function) to create the final product (result).

Some important features of function arguments include:

• They allow the function to be more flexible by accepting different inputs.
• The number and type of arguments can vary depending on how a function is designed.
• Functions usually specify the types of arguments they accept, which helps avoid errors.

Understanding function arguments helps you write better, more reusable code.

Copy of Argument

A copy of an argument is when a function receives its inputs in the form of a separate duplicate, rather than the exact original value. It's like giving a duplicated key rather than the master key.
This ensures the original piece remains unaffected even if the copy undergoes modifications.

Why it matters:

• Ensures the original data is protected from any unintended changes.
• Keeps functions self-contained, so changes are only local and don't ripple externally.
• Provides a safeguard against bugs and confusion that might occur if the original data were manipulated.

Grasping the concept of argument copying is crucial when designing functions, ensuring data integrity and reliability.