arvoparametrit

Arvoparametrit, a Finnish term, translates to "value parameters" in English and refers to a fundamental concept in programming, particularly in functional programming languages like Scala. It describes how arguments are evaluated when a function is called. When a function is defined with value parameters, the expressions passed as arguments are evaluated *before* the function body is executed. This means that the values are computed once and then passed to the function.

This contrasts with by-name parameters, where the expression is evaluated each time it is used within the function body. The use of value parameters ensures that the arguments are evaluated in a predictable order and that the function receives concrete values, rather than potentially unevaluated expressions. This can lead to more efficient execution in many cases, as computations are not repeated unnecessarily. However, it can also mean that side effects of argument evaluation occur immediately upon function invocation, regardless of whether the arguments are actually used within the function. Understanding the distinction between value parameters and other parameter passing mechanisms is crucial for writing correct and efficient code in languages that support these concepts.