I'm pretty sure there is a special name for the 'spec' of a function/method. It's a word that refers to
- how many arguments it takes
- the order of arguments
- which arguments are optional
Is there a name for that?
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2There are a few different kinds of "specs". You mention argument type, order, and necessity. Taken together with return type, that's called a type signature. Do you consider the name of the function part of the spec? How about it's namespace, like class, package, module, etc.? Is this spec for programmers or machines? See my answer.– kdbanmanCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 17:44
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4I'm suprised this question has four close votes - it's a perfectly legitimate question IMHO, and quite answerable (in fact, it has been answered already).– sleskeCommented Sep 23, 2015 at 12:47
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@callum, please edit your question to be less ambiguous so it can be unflagged. Are you concerned with a specific language? A machine spec or a programmer spec? A spec for calling or a spec for implementation?– kdbanmanCommented Sep 24, 2015 at 15:39
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1@kdbanman I was just trying to remember the word "signature". It's not ambiguous. It's not language-specific. It's been answered. It's OK.– callumCommented Sep 24, 2015 at 18:36
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@callum, that's what I thought. Thank you for the reply.– kdbanmanCommented Sep 24, 2015 at 19:02
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3 Answers
Usually this is called a type signature.
A type signature includes the function's return type, the number of arguments, the types of arguments, or errors it may pass back.
answered Sep 22, 2015 at 12:21
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6Usually? I'm used to "prototype". Which apparently is the type signature plus the name - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_prototype Commented Sep 22, 2015 at 15:17
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14@Polyergic, signature is more general than prototype (and more correct in this case): a prototype declares a signature. Specifically, "prototype" implies declaration without implementation, as in a Java or C# method declaration in an
interface, or a C/C++ function declaration in a header file (literally called aprototype).– kdbanmanCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 16:28 -
12Also, arity is a less commonly used term for just the number of arguments.– SebiCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 18:12
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^ Ooh, that's an interesting one! I'll have to remember that for when I dabble in JS, since I only have argument counts to guide me, not types. Commented Sep 23, 2015 at 11:40
TL;DR You're probably talking about a function signature (or method signature), part of which is a type signature.
But really depends on what you consider a function "spec". I interpret it as "all the information required for a programmer to call a function". This includes the function name, the parameter type, order, and necessity, probably the return type, and probably even that function's namespace.
But whether or not all those things are required (or even well defined) depends on the language/environment you're using. Also, if you change the definition to "all the information required for a machine to call a function", the spec is likely different1.
Strictly speaking, a function (or method) signature is not a consistent term,2, 3 even within the same language.4, 5, 6, 7 But it's almost certainly the word you're looking for, because it'll be understood by almost any programmer.
- "signature" does not include namespace information
- "signature" includes exceptions and modifiers like
public,static, etc
- C++ "signatures" do not include return type
- C++ "signatures" do include return type.
- C++ "signatures" do not include return type, unless the function is the specialization of a template.
- C++ "signatures" include namespace (scope) information and "other miscellaneous" stuff...
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I would include also at least what the method does when talking about its "spec". Depending on the focus of the day I may or may not include whatever additional information is necessary to implement the method.– userCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 20:28
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@MichaelKjörling, those are valid concerns, but those are pretty significant digressions from what most programmers would call a "signature". What the function does should be included in the function name, so it is indirectly part of the signature. Regardless, I don't think function behavior or implementation are what the asker intended. I will edit accordingly if it turns out he did.– kdbanmanCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 20:44
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Signature yes, "spec" no. (FWIW, I think your answer is quite good, and well cited.)– userCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 20:45
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Thanks for the feedback. I don't think the answer is quite so clear cut as "'spec' no". It depends on what is meant by spec - one could certainly come up with a reasonable definition of spec that includes function behavior and implementation guidelines. You're welcome to do that in your own answer. But like I said, I don't think those are what the asker intended.– kdbanmanCommented Sep 22, 2015 at 20:51
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1Upvoted because, though not
language-agnostic, the C++ examples are (A) relevant to me and (B) illustrative of the confusion that so often surrounds human terminology Commented Sep 23, 2015 at 11:43
I believe the term is "contract". It defines the interface and what's expected of caller and callee; however it also covers things like allowed values of parameters which is not something many languages allow to be defined by the function or class definition, so the term "contract" might be broader in meaning than what you meant. I have seen it in several object oriented and Java specific programming books. I'm not sure if it's Java specific but I don't see why would it need to be. Signature is the other commonly used term but I grew to like "contract".
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This is the best answer if question is really the name for "spec" of the function/method. The signature itself doesn't tell anything about what the method actually does, allowed range of parameters, non-functionnal contraints and so on...– ch7korCommented Sep 25, 2015 at 16:07