Actual parameter

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[edit intro]

In computer science, an actual parameter is a name or value passed to a subroutine. This is in contrast to a formal parameter, which is the name by which the subroutine refers actual parameter. For example, in C,

` `

int foo(int a)

int b = 5;

return a + b;

int bar(void)

return foo(1);

```

The subroutine bar() calls foo(). When bar() calls foo(), it passes the constant 1. Within bar(), 1 is an actual parameter to foo(). Within foo(), a is a formal parameter which references the actual parameter 1 from bar().

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