Difference between parameteres and arguments

For example take a loot at this:

Code:

int myFunc(int x, int y);       //prototype

The first keyword int represents the type of myFunc.Right ?
The next word myFunc is the name of my user defiened function. Right ?
The () indicates the list of parameters. Right ?
The int x and int y are the parameters followed by their type and name, separated by commas. Right ?

Which are the arguments ? I think that they are the actual values of these variables passed to myFunc. Take a look:

Code:

#include <iostream>
int myFunc(int x, int y);
int main()
{
            using std::cout;
            int result;
           
            result = myFunc(2,3);    //Are 2,3 the arguments ????? or they are parameters too ?
            cout << "2 multiple 3 = " << result << std::endl;
            std::system("PAUSE");
            return 0 ;
}

int myFunc(int x, int y)
{
             return (x * y);
}

I think parameters and arguments are often used as synonyms. To make a distinction you might distinguish between the names of the variables declared in the function prototype and the values that are passed into the function (and these variables).

Your sense of parameters and arguments seems about right to me.

I don't recall at the moment if the standards define more specific terms though.

Strictly, a "parameter" is the abstract concept, and "argument" is the actual value passed during invokation. In practice, people use the two words interchangeably.

In compiler design, we often refer to "formal parameters" and "actual parameters" to make the distinction clear.

Originally Posted by brewbuck

Strictly, a "parameter" is the abstract concept, and "argument" is the actual value passed during invokation. In practice, people use the two words interchangeably.

In compiler design, we often refer to "formal parameters" and "actual parameters" to make the distinction clear.

My interpretation of formal parameters/actual parameters was between function prototypes and function definitions. ie,

Code:

void foo(int blah);  // 'blah' is a formal parameter

int main()
{
    foo( 5 );  // 5 is the argument
}

void foo(int bar)  // 'bar' is the actual parameter
{
    std::cout << bar;
}

Bjarne Stroustrup's C++ Glossary defines the terms as:

argument - a value passed to a function or a template. In the case of templates, an argument is often a type.

parameter - a variable declared in a function or templates for representing an argument. Also called a formal argument. Similarly, for templates.

My understanding is that "parameters", "formal parameters" and "formal arguments" mean the same thing, and "arguments", "actual parameters" and "actual arguments" mean the same thing.