Help me refine some terminology.

Start with this code snippet:

func foo(with a: Int) -> Int { return a }

You use arguments at call sites and parameters in declarations. This example function defines one parameter that accepts one argument from the call site, e.g. foo(with: 2). 

Apple’s Swift Programming Language book uses this approach:

Use func to declare a function. Call a function by following its name with a list of arguments in parentheses. Use -> to separate the parameter names and types from the function’s return type.

The mighty Wikipedia writes:

The term parameter (sometimes called formal parameter) is often used to refer to the variable as found in the function definition, while argument (sometimes called actual parameter) refers to the actual input passed.

The Swift grammar lays out the external and local differentiation available to parameter declarations:

parameter → external-parameter-name local-parameter-name type-annotation default-argument-clause

Like Apple, I use label instead of name to refer to a parameter’s API-facing component outside of the grammar. The Swift Programming Languages refers to these as a custom argument label, naming it from the consumption POV. Apple writes:

By default, functions use their parameter names as labels for their arguments. Write a custom argument label before the parameter name, or write _ to use no argument label.

I generally call it a label or an external label instead. I often use parameter here (external parameter label, for example), especially when talking about the declaration. I don’t think there’s any real harm in doing so.

In this example, the parameter’s local or internal name is a. Some developers also call it the local or internal variable name. I find that word overloaded in meaning. Swift differentiates constants and variables and does not permit variables in function signatures.

I don’t have any problem calling it an internal argument name either because it’s the name given to the argument passed to the function or method. This seems slightly out of sync with SPL standards and practices. What do you think?