Does it bother you when programmers use the word "Arguments" and "Parameters" interchangeably ?

I don't think I've ever been bothered by this, but sometimes a statement like this can trigger more awareness 😅.

I think I generally use the two words correctly, but I don't give it much thought and could easily have used them synonymously at times.

For anybody who doesn't know the difference:

- Function parameters are the names listed in the function's definition.
- Function arguments are the real values passed to the function.
- Parameters are initialized to the values of the arguments supplied.

Remember, it's okay to be annoyed — but don't be a jerk about it if you need to correct someone.

In general, no.

If the discussion topic is important to talk distinctly about arguments (provided by the caller) and parameters (as expected by the function) then it's important to mind the Ps and Qs.

Mnemonic: parameters are like parking spots; arguments are like automobiles.

Not at all. Because it ultimately doesn't matter, unless we're talking about specifics of which side we're talking about.

Does it matter if you're working with arguments in the function, or passing parameters to the function? No. It matters when the distinction matters. It matters when discussing, f.e. pass-by-value in languages where non-scalars are implicitly passing references (and even then, does it really matter?).

Is there ever a situation where there would be meaningful ambiguity between which one was meant? If not, why should it bother anyone?

Is it params of a function signature and args for a function call? I write a lot of docs that's the only place it bothers me otherwise I don't mind

I can get like that, although I try to keep it to myself and just use the correct terms when I'm talking about them. It's easy to forget this is just one of the many small things everyone needs to learn eventually, like literally every other concept and term.

this thought always hits me when I say one of them, thinking if it should be the other one haha but thanks to this discussion, I've learned the correct definition.. Now maybe I won't get it wrong so much

Not really because I make the same mistake sometimes 😅

No doesn’t bother me at all because if you say either argument or parameter another developer is gonna know what you’re talking about haha

Not as much as people mixing up attributes and properties.

I am guilty of doing this 😒

Very interesting. I think this also applies to shell commands.

that's a cool one, Nate ! :D

This one sounds very familiar

I never bothered myself in what I am using... Actually I never really paid too much attention to that. I think I use params all the time.
Always considered them kind of the 2 faces of a medal. Does it really make a difference how we call them?

Anyway. Checkbox "today I learned" ticked! Thank you :-)