Parameter

Updated: 08/02/2020 by Computer Hope

A parameter may refer to any of the following:

Symbol showing a cycle.

1. With a URL (uniform resource locator), a parameter is any data appearing after a question mark (?), which sends additional information to the server. Multiple parameters are separated by an ampersand (&). For full details about a URL and its parameters, see our URL guide.

2. Sometimes abbreviated as parm, with a command, a parameter refers to an unknown data value capable of being set through a command by the user. For example, the command fdisk /cmbr <disk> requires that the user specify the "disk" parameter. In this example, a parameter lets you choose what disk drive you want to use when recreating the master boot record.

Tip

In the example above, /cmbr is a command switch and should not be confused with a parameter. Command switches often begin with either a forward slash ( / ) or a dash ( - ), depending on the command line.

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