Explain parameters and arguments in C language ?

In C language, parameters and arguments are closely related concepts in function calls, but they have distinct roles:

Parameters:

• Variables defined within a function’s declaration, acting as placeholders for values that will be provided when the function is called.
• They specify the types of data the function expects to receive.
• They are local to the function, meaning they only exist within its scope.

Arguments:

• Actual values or expressions passed to a function when it’s called.
• They are assigned to the corresponding parameters within the function.
• They can be variables, literals, or expressions from the calling code.

Key Differences:

• Scope: Parameters are local to the function, while arguments belong to the calling code’s scope.
• Timing: Parameters are defined when the function is declared, while arguments are provided when the function is called.
• Role: Parameters define the function’s interface, while arguments provide the specific input for each call.

Example:

int add(int x, int y) { // x and y are parameters
    return x + y;
}

int main() {
    int a = 5, b = 3;
    int sum = add(a, b); // a and b are arguments
    printf("Sum: %d\n", sum);
}

Explanation:

1. The add function has two parameters, x and y, which act as placeholders for the values it will add.
2. In main, the values of a and b are passed as arguments to the add function when it’s called.
3. Within add, the arguments a and b are assigned to the parameters x and y, respectively.
4. The calculation x + y is performed using the values provided by the arguments.
5. The result (8) is returned from add and stored in the sum variable in main.