This article is about metasyntactic variables in computer science and programming. For metasyntactic variables as used in formal logic, see Metavariable (logic). For usage in spoken languages, see Placeholder name.
A metasyntactic variable is a specific word or set of words identified as a placeholder in computer science and specifically computer programming. These words are commonly found in source code and are intended to be modified or substituted before real-world usage. For example, foo and bar are used in over 330 Internet Engineering Task Force Requests for Comments, the documents which define foundational internet technologies like HTTP (web), TCP/IP, and email protocols.[1][2]
By mathematical analogy, a metasyntactic variable is a word that is a variable for other words, just as in algebra letters are used as variables for numbers.[1]
Metasyntactic variables are used to name entities such as variables, functions, and commands whose exact identity is unimportant and serve only to demonstrate a concept, which is useful for teaching programming.
^ abEastlake 3rd, Donald E.; Manros, Carl-Uno; Raymond, Eric S. Etymology of "Foo". doi:10.17487/RFC3092. RFC 3092.
^"Document Retrieval". RFC Editor.
and 24 Related for: Metasyntactic variable information
A metasyntacticvariable is a specific word or set of words identified as a placeholder in computer science and specifically computer programming. These...
terms foobar (/ˈfuːbɑːr/), foo, bar, baz, and others are used as metasyntacticvariables and placeholder names in computer programming or computer-related...
variables are usually named with identifiers that abbreviate the word temporary, such as temp, tmp or simply t, or with common metasyntacticvariable...
jarringly out of context, intentional or not. It is sometimes used as a metasyntacticvariable in programming. Fnord appears in the Church of the SubGenius recruitment...
test image Li Europan lingues – Placeholder text in Interlingue Metasyntacticvariable – Placeholder term used in computer science Pangram – Sentence using...
BYD Auto The lowest tornado intensity on the Fujita scale Foo, a metasyntacticvariable This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same...
magic word from the Colossal Cave Adventure computer game, later a metasyntacticvariable or a video game cheat code Xyzzy (mnemonic), memory trick used in...
Free variable, a symbol subsequently replaced by a value or string. Interpoled variable of a string interpolation process. Metasyntacticvariable, a placeholder...
Tibet Autonomous Region qux (computer science), a commonly defined metasyntacticvariable Qux (programming), a common placeholder name QUX (radiotelegraphy)...
oscillation of primarily just the steerable wheel(s) of a vehicle A metasyntacticvariable, commonly used alongside wibble, wubble, and flob Wobble (Wesleyan...
both names appear on the map. "Argle" is also a somewhat common metasyntacticvariable, the kind of placeholder names used by computer programmers[citation...
the theorems of the system. A metavariable (or metalinguistic or metasyntacticvariable) is a symbol or set of symbols in a metalanguage which stands for...
Shanghai Metal Exchange Synthetic human-made environment shme, a metasyntacticvariable This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title...
refer to: Wubble-U, a British dance music group A commonly used metasyntacticvariable, alongside wibble, wobble, and flob Wubble, the 2020 WNBA season...
and other licensed Mad products. It also sees occasional use as a metasyntacticvariable by hackers. A typical appearance of the word is exemplified by the...
effect, ability for an aircraft to stand still in the air hoge, a metasyntacticvariable (placeholder in computer science) commonly used in Japan (Japanese...
giving rise to the somewhat frequent use of Fred and Barney as metasyntacticvariables, rather than the classic foo and bar. Brad Morrey, reviewing the...
Wibble (1943–2000), Swedish minister of finance A commonly used metasyntacticvariable, alongside wubble and wobble This disambiguation page lists articles...
Army slang acronym, FUBAR. Both foo and bar are commonly used as metasyntacticvariables. Gentoo – a Linux distribution. Named after a variety of penguin...
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