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Module 3~9 min

Parameters and Return Values

Functions become far more powerful when they can accept input and hand back a result. This lesson covers parameters and return values.

What You'll Learn

  • What a parameter is
  • What a return value is
  • How they make functions flexible

Parameters: Giving Functions Input

A parameter is a value passed into a function when it's called, letting the same function behave differently depending on the input it receives.

Return Values: Getting a Result Back

A return value is the result a function hands back after it finishes running, which the rest of the program can then use.

Example

A function `add(a, b)` might take two parameters and return their sum -- calling `add(2, 3)` would return the value 5.

Key Concepts

ParameterReturn ValueFunction Input/Output

Key Takeaways

  • A parameter is input passed into a function
  • A return value is the result a function hands back
  • Parameters and return values make functions flexible and reusable

Knowledge Check

What is a parameter?

What is a parameter?