Variables, Parameters, Arguments

Internal

• Programming Language Concepts
• Python Function Parameters
• Java Generics Concepts | Type Parameters

Identifier (Name)

An identifier is a name given to program element, for example to a variable. In this case, the identifier and the variable are equivalent. Identifiers are also used for functions, classes, labels, and many more elements. Identifiers must differ in spelling and case from the language keywords, or reserved words.

Keyword (Reserved Word)

Reserved words across languages:

• Python reserved words
• Go keywords

Variable

Variables are names associated with memory locations that store values. In most programming languages, the values stored in memory have a formal type associated with them. Depending on the static or dynamic typing nature of the language, variables may or may not allow the modification their type throughout the execution of the program. A useful mental representation of a variable is a sticky note that can be attached to an object, and then re-attached to a different object. Depending on the language, the second object may or may not be of the same type. Variables and identifiers are equivalent.

Variables in various programming languages:

• Java variables
• Python variables
• Go variables
• Bash variables and parameters

Parameter

A parameter is a variable name used in a function definition. Each parameter translates to a variable private to the function. The parameters are handles for arguments for a particular function invocation. For Java generics, the ordinary parameters and variables are replaced with type parameters (type variables), and the arguments are replaced with type arguments.

Function parameters in various languages:

• Java method parameters
• Python function parameters
• Go function parameters
• Bash variables and parameters

Argument

When a function is invoked, we pass an argument for each parameter declared in the function definition. An argument is a value that is passed into the function as function's input. When the function is called with arguments, the values of those argument are copied to the function-scoped variables corresponding to the associated parameters. The argument can be another variable, defined in the block that invokes the function. Usually, and depending on the syntax of the particular language, arguments are passed in parentheses and they are separated by commas.

Function arguments in various languages:

• Python function arguments
• Go function arguments

Pass by Value vs. Pass by Reference vs. Pass by Pointer

Pointer

A pointer is a variable that stores an address of a location in memory. The term "pointer" is also used to name the data type associated with addresses in memory.

A pointer variable can store the address of another variable - the location in memory referred by that variable -, or other memory items.

When we reference a variable through a pointer, it's called "indirection".

A pointer can be reassigned to a different address.

The name pass-by-pointer comes from the fact that when a function is invoked, the argument corresponding to the parameter being passed-by-pointer is a pointer, the address to the location in memory the function needs access to.

Pointers in Go

Reference

A reference is a variable which refers to another variable. It can be thought as an alias, or an alternate name of a variable. A reference is different from a pointer in that once you make a copy of a reference, they are now independent, and while they may be referring to the same variable, when you manipulate the reference it will change what it refers to, rather than the referring value.

Java and Python use references. Go uses pointers. C++ has both pointer and reference support.

See also:

References in Java

References in Python

Language-Specific Details

Pass by Value vs. Pass by Reference vs. Pass by Pointer in the Go Language

Function Invocation

• Go function invocation