Parameter VS Argument

Let's see examples right away to understand practical difference between arguments and parameters:

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

Here,x and y are the parameters of the add function. They define the structure of the input the function can accept.

result = add(5, 3) # 5 and 3 are arguments
print(result) # Output: 8

In this case, 5 and 3 are the arguments provided to the add function, which are assigned to the parameters x and y.

Key Differences

Definition: Parameters are variables listed in the function declaration, while arguments are the actual values passed during the function call.
Location: Parameters are part of the function definition, whereas arguments are part of the function invocation.
Role: Parameters define the input structure, while arguments supply the actual data for processing.
Naming: Parameters are named identifiers used within the function, while arguments can be literals, variables, or expressions.