What are the parameters called in the definition of a procedure or function?

In the context of programming, the parameters defined within a procedure or function are referred to as formal parameters. These are placeholders used in the function's definition that allow you to pass values into the function when it is called. Formal parameters indicate what type of data the function expects to receive and can be used within the function's body to perform operations with the input data.

Formal parameters are declared in the function signature and are distinct from actual parameters, which are the specific values or variables you supply when calling the function. Understanding the distinction between these two types of parameters is crucial for comprehending how functions operate and how data is passed around in programming.

The correct term, formal parameters, emphasizes their role in defining the interface of the function, allowing for code reusability and modular programming.