Argument

What is an Argument?

To understand arguments better, let’s start with a brief overview of what a function is. A function is a segment of code designed to take an input, perform operations on it, and then produce a result.

In this context, the input provided to the function is known as an “argument.” Therefore, arguments are the values you pass into functions or programs to enable them to perform their tasks.

Additionally, the result returned by the function is called the “return value.” It’s useful to remember both terms as they work together.

Practical Examples

Here’s a practical example to illustrate. Imagine the human body as a function: the food you eat acts as the argument, while the waste produced is the return value.

Another example is a translation function that converts text from one language to another.

For instance, if you provide the word “apple” to this translation function, it might return the word “pomme” in French. In this case, “apple” is the argument, and “pomme” is the return value.

In Summary

Whenever you come across the term “argument,” think of it as the value passed to a function or program for processing. Understanding arguments and return values together will give you a clearer grasp of how functions work.