Question

What are the pieces of data that are passed into a function called?

Short answer

Answer: The pieces of data passed into a function are called "arguments" or "parameters." Their purpose is to serve as input to the function, allowing it to perform its specific computation or task.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Functions

A function is a reusable piece of code that performs a specific task or computation. Functions are defined with a name and a set of instructions. They can take in data called "input," process it according to the instructions, and return a resulting value called "output."

Data Passing

When we pass the data into a function, we provide the input values that the function needs to work with. These input values are essential for the function to be able to carry out its task correctly.

Terminology for Input Data

The pieces of data that are passed into a function are called "arguments" or "parameters." These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have slight differences: - "Parameters" are the variables that are defined in the function's declaration. They are like placeholders for the actual input values. - "Arguments" are the actual values that we pass into the function when calling it. These values are assigned to the corresponding parameters. In conclusion, the pieces of data that are passed into a function are called "arguments" or "parameters" depending on the context. They serve as input to the function and allow it to perform its specific computation or task.