Parameter Passing
Parameter passing is a fundamental programming concept that defines how arguments are transferred from a caller to a function or method. It specifies the mechanism by which data is communicated between different parts of a program, influencing behavior like mutability and performance. Common methods include pass-by-value, pass-by-reference, and pass-by-object-reference, which vary across programming languages.
Developers should learn parameter passing to write efficient, bug-free code, as it affects how functions modify data and manage memory. It is crucial when designing APIs, optimizing performance in resource-intensive applications, or working with languages that have specific passing semantics like C++ or Python. Understanding this helps avoid common pitfalls like unintended side effects or unnecessary data copying.