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JavaScript Function Parameters

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Parameters and Arguments

Parameters allow you to pass (send) values to a function.

Parameters are listed inside the parentheses in the function definition.

Arguments are the real values passed to, and received by the function.

Example

function multiply(a, b) {
return a * b;
}

let result = multiply(4, 5);

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Function parameters are the names listed in the function definition.

Function arguments are the real values passed to (and received by) the function.

In the example above:

a and b are parameters

4 and 5 are arguments

The argument 4 is assigned to the parameter a.

The argument 5 is assigned to the parameter b.

Functions with One Parameter

A function can have one parameter.

Examples

function sayHello(name) {
return "Hello " + name;
}

let greeting = sayHello("John");

Try it Yourself »

function toCelsius(fahrenheit) {
return (5 / 9) * (fahrenheit - 32);
}

let value = toCelsius(77);

Try it Yourself »

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Example

function fullName(firstName, lastName) {

return firstName + " " + lastName;
}

let name = fullName("John", "Doe");

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The Order of Arguments Matters

Arguments are assigned to parameters in the order they appear.

Example

function subtract(a, b) {
return a - b;
}

let x1 = subtract(10, 5);

let x2 = subtract(5, 10);

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The two calls above return different results because the order is different.

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Examples

function toCelsius(fahrenheit) {
return (5/9) * (fahrenheit-32);
}

let value = toCelsius("John");

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function toCelsius(fahrenheit) {
return (5/9) * (fahrenheit-32);
}

let value = toCelsius();

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Accessing a function without (), returns the function itself and not the result:

Example

function toCelsius(fahrenheit) {
return (5/9) * (fahrenheit-32);
}

let value = toCelsius;

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In the examples above:

toCelsius refers to the function itself.

toCelsius() refers to the function result.

Missing Arguments
If a function is called with fewer arguments than parameters, the missing values become
undefined.

Example

function multiply(a, b) {
return a * b;
}

multiply(4);

In the example above, b is undefined, so the result is NaN.

Note
A JavaScript function does not perform any checking on parameter values (arguments).

Parameter Rules
JavaScript function definitions do not specify data types for parameters.

JavaScript functions do not perform type checking on the passed arguments.

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JavaScript functions do not check the number of arguments received.

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Default Parameters
If a function is called with missing arguments (less than declared), the missing values are
set to undefined .

Sometimes this is acceptable, but sometimes it is better to assign a default value to the
parameter:

Example

function myFunction(x, y) {
if (y === undefined) {
y = 2;
}
}

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Default Parameter Values

You can set a default value for a parameter.
This value is used if no argument is provided.

Example

function greet(name = "Guest") {

return "Hello " + name;
}

greet();
greet("Anna");

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Example

let x = 5;
let y = 6;

function multiply(a, b) {
return a * b;
}

multiply(x, y);

Common Mistakes

Confusing Parameters and Arguments

Parameters are names. Arguments are values.

Forgetting the Order

Arguments are assigned to parameters by position.

Missing Arguments
Use default values to avoid undefined.

Quiz
What happens when a function is called with fewer arguments than parameters?

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Next: Returning Values from Functions

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