created: 20230421020225031
modified: 20230726145912019
tags: 
title: Variable Usage
type: text/vnd.tiddlywiki

!Ways to define variables and parameters
|! how declared|! how parameters are defined|! accessing parameter values in the body|
|\define|`()`|`$param$, <<__param__>>`|
|~|<<.wlink ParametersWidget>> or `\parameters`|`<<param>>`|
|<<.wlink SetWidget>>, <<.wlink LetWidget>>, <<.wlink VarsWidget>>|<<.wlink ParametersWidget>> or `\parameters`|`<<param>>`|
|\procedure, \widget|`()`, <<.wlink ParametersWidget>> or `\parameters`|`<<param>>`|
|\function|`()`|`<param>`|
|javascript macros|`exports.params` javascript property array|passed as normal javascript function parameter and so accessed as a normal javascript variable|

!!Examples
These examples are meant to provide insight into the various ways of defining and using parameters. In many cases they do not illustrate best practices.

!!! \define

<$let eg='\define mp1(a1)  $a1$ - <<__a1__>>

\define mp2() <$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>

\define mp3()
\parameters(a1)
<<a1>>
\end

|<<mp1 foo>>|<<mp2 foo>>|<<mp3 foo>>|
'>
<$macrocall $name="copy-to-clipboard-above-right" src=<<eg>>/>
<$codeblock code=<<eg>>/>
</$let>

!!! $set, $let, $vars

<$let eg='<$set name="sp1" value="<$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>">
<$set name="sp2" value="""
\parameters(a1)
<$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>
""">
<$vars vp1="<$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>" vp2="""
\parameters(a1)
<$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>
""">
<$let lp1="<$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>" lp2="""
\parameters(a1)
<$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>
""">

|<<sp1 foo>>|<<sp2 foo>>|
|<<vp1 foo>>|<<vp2 foo>>|
|<<lp1 foo>>|<<lp2 foo>>|
</$let>
</$vars>
</$set>
</$set>
'>
<$macrocall $name="copy-to-clipboard-above-right" src=<<eg>>/>
<$codeblock code=<<eg>>/>
</$let>

!!! \procedure, \widget

<$let eg='\procedure pp1(a1)  <<a1>>

\procedure pp2() <$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>

\procedure pp3()
\parameters(a1)
<<a1>>
\end

\procedure wp1(a1)  <<a1>>

\widget wp2() <$parameters a1><<a1>></$parameters>

\widget wp3()
\parameters(a1)
<<a1>>
\end

|<<pp1 foo>>|<<pp2 foo>>|<<pp3 foo>>|
|<<wp1 foo>>|<<wp2 foo>>|<<wp3 foo>>|
'>
<$macrocall $name="copy-to-clipboard-above-right" src=<<eg>>/>
<$codeblock code=<<eg>>/>
</$let>

!!! \function
<$let eg='\function fp1(a1)  [<a1>]
|<<fp1 foo>>|'>
<$macrocall $name="copy-to-clipboard-above-right" src=<<eg>>/>
<$codeblock code=<<eg>>/>
</$let>


!Behaviour of invoked variables depends on how the variable was declared

{{Behaviour of invoked variables depends on how the variable was declared}}


!Namespaces

*''tiddler titles'' - tiddlers are uniquely identified by their title. The namespace for tiddler titles and variable names are completely separate.
*''variables'' - \define, <<.wlink SetWidget>>, <<.wlink LetWidget>>, <<.wlink VarsWidget>>, \procedure, \widget, \function all create variables. If the same name is used, then later define will overwrite earlier defined
 *''<<.op function>> filter operator parameter'' - only variables defined using \function can be called using the <<.olink function>> operator
 *''filter operators'' - only the [[javascript defined filter operators|Filter Operators]] and variables defined using \function with name containing a dot can be called
 *''widgets'' - variables defined using \widget can be invoked using `<$widget/>` syntax ONLY if the name starts a dollar sign. Without the dollar sign prefix, defining variables using \widget is no different than using \procedure.