Difference Between Parameters and Arguments

Parameters refer to the variables listed in a function's declaration, defining the input that the function can accept. Arguments, however, are the actual values passed to the function when it is called, filling the parameters during execution.

Parameters:

In programming, a parameter is a variable in a function or method declaration. It serves as a placeholder for data that will be provided when the function or method is called. Parameters define the type and number of values that a function or method can accept.

They define the types and order of values that a function can accept. Parameters are used to receive the arguments passed to a function when it is called.

Example:

def add(x, y):  # Here, x and y are parameters
    return x + y

Arguments:

Arguments, also known as actual arguments, are the values supplied to a function when it is called. These values serve as inputs to the function during its execution.

They are used to supply the values to the parameters of a function. The number of arguments must match the number of parameters in the function definition.

Example:

result = add(5, 3)  # Here, 5 and 3 are arguments

Difference Between Parameters and Arguments:

Below is a table summarizing the difference between arguments and parameters:

Implementation:

Below are examples that demonstrates the difference between parameters and arguments:

#include <iostream>

// Function definition with parameters
int add(int x, int y) {  // x and y are parameters
    return x + y;
}

int main() {
    // Calling the function with arguments
    int result = add(5, 3);  // 5 and 3 are arguments
    
    // Display the result
    std::cout << "Result of adding 5 and 3 is: " << result << std::endl;
    
    return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

// Function definition with parameters
int add(int x, int y)
{
    // x and y are parameters
    return x + y;
}

int main()
{
    // Calling the function with arguments
    // 5 and 3 are arguments
    int result = add(5, 3);

    // Display the result
    printf("Result of adding 5 and 3 is: %d\n", result);

    return 0;
}

public class Main {
    // Function definition with parameters
    public static int add(int x, int y) {  // x and y are parameters
        return x + y;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Calling the function with arguments
        int result = add(5, 3);  // 5 and 3 are arguments
        
        // Display the result
        System.out.println("Result of adding 5 and 3 is: " + result);
    }
}

using System;

public class Program {
    // Function definition with parameters
    public static int Add(int x, int y) {  // x and y are parameters
        return x + y;
    }

    public static void Main() {
        // Calling the function with arguments
        int result = Add(5, 3);  // 5 and 3 are arguments
        
        // Display the result
        Console.WriteLine($"Result of adding 5 and 3 is: {result}");
    }
}

// Function definition with parameters
function add(x, y) {  // x and y are parameters
    return x + y;
}

// Calling the function with arguments
let result = add(5, 3);  // 5 and 3 are arguments

// Display the result
console.log(`Result of adding 5 and 3 is: ${result}`);

# Function definition with parameters
def add(x, y):  # x and y are parameters
    return x + y

# Calling the function with arguments
result = add(5, 3)  # 5 and 3 are arguments

# Display the result
print(f"Result of adding 5 and 3 is: {result}")

Result of adding 5 and 3 is: 8