CodeHS Glossary

Parameter Java

A variable passed into a method from outside the method.

A parameter is an input into a method.

For example, in the short program below, the square method takes in one parameter, an int named x. The run method passes the variable num to the square method as a parameter, so the value of num is copied over into the parameter x.

public class ParameterExample extends ConsoleProgram
{
    // The run method takes no parameters as input
    public void run()
    {
        int num = 5;

        // Call the method square. Pass in num as a parameter. This will print out 25.
        square(num);
    }

    // The square method takes in one int as a parameter, and prints out the square of that parameter
    private void square(int x)
    {
        System.out.println(x * x);
    }
}