Call by reference / value ????

[randombrowser]

I have an exam in 2 weeks and we have been told to;

Learn what is meant by call by reference and call by value..

I have looked up some definitions but I can't understand them.


Can anyone come up with a simplified description of what each do. Try and dumb it down as much as you can, I wont be offended .

I just want to know a basic overview of what each one does. If anyone could answer this I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[leeroyMarv]

I'm not sure as to what exactly you're referring to as the term can apply to many different prog languages, but generally i think 'call by reference' refers to the location where a value is held, or more descriptively; implies a reference of the value without actually pointing to the value itself, whereas 'call by value' refers to the actual value itself

 

[Cromewell]

It's the other way around. To try and keep it simple: By value is like getting a copy of the original.
By reference is like getting the original.