The spelling of the word "actual parameter" is based on the pronunciation of each individual sound in the word. In IPA phonetic transcription, "actual" is spelled /ˈæktʃuəl/ and "parameter" is spelled /pəˈræmɪtər/. The first syllable of "actual" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, followed by a "k" sound and a "ch" sound. "Parameter" is pronounced with a short "a" sound followed by a "p" sound and a "m" sound, and ends with a stress on the "ter" syllable.
An actual parameter is a term commonly used in the field of computer programming to describe the value or expression that is passed to a function or subroutine at the time of its invocation or call. It refers to the specific value or data that is provided to a function or subroutine when it is called with certain arguments or parameters.
In programming languages that support functions or subroutines, the programmer often defines these functions with a set of formal parameters, which are placeholders for the actual values that will be passed to the function when it is called. When the function is invoked, the programmer supplies the actual parameter values, which are then matched with the formal parameters based on their position or name.
The actual parameter is the concrete value that is assigned to the formal parameter within the function. It can be a literal value, a variable, or an expression that evaluates to a value. The actual parameter may differ from the formal parameter in terms of data type, but it must be compatible with the expected type specified by the formal parameter.
In summary, an actual parameter is the value or expression that is passed to a function or subroutine when it is called with specific arguments. It is used to provide the necessary input for the function to execute its operations and produce the desired output.
The word "actual parameter" originated from the field of computer science and programming.
In programming, a function or subroutine can have parameters that allow it to receive arguments or inputs. The term "parameter" refers to the variable or placeholder declared in the function's definition.
The term "actual parameter" is used to distinguish the value or expression provided as an argument when calling or invoking the function. The "actual parameter" is the specific data or value that is passed into the function when it is called.
The etymology of the term itself suggests that "actual" is derived from the Latin "actus", meaning "done" or "performed", while "parameter" comes from the Greek "parametros", meaning "boundary" or "limit". Therefore, "actual parameter" essentially refers to the real or concrete value provided as an input to a function or subroutine.