Parameter
- An adjustable characteristic used to test how changes affect a system or process.
- Commonly varied to observe effects on outcomes in experiments and analyses.
- Used across scientific research, engineering, and data analysis to probe variable interactions.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”A parameter is a characteristic or factor that can be varied in order to measure its effect on a particular system or process. It is a specific value or range of values that can be changed to test the impact it has on a particular outcome.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”Parameters are variables or settings chosen and controlled to investigate how changes influence a system’s behavior or the result of a process. By manipulating parameters, researchers and practitioners can identify optimal conditions, quantify effects on rates or yields, and understand interactions among variables. Parameters appear in many contexts—experimental setups, models, and algorithms—where they serve to probe the relationship between controlled inputs and observed outcomes.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Chemistry — reaction temperature
Section titled “Chemistry — reaction temperature”The temperature of a reaction in a chemistry experiment is a parameter that can be changed to see how it affects the outcome of the reaction. For instance, increasing the temperature may cause the reaction to occur more quickly, while decreasing the temperature may cause it to slow down. By manipulating the temperature parameter, scientists can learn more about the optimal conditions for the reaction to occur, as well as how temperature impacts the rate and yield of the reaction.
Physics — length of a light pulse
Section titled “Physics — length of a light pulse”The length of a light pulse in a physics experiment is a variable that can be varied to see how it affects the behavior of the light. For instance, increasing the length of the pulse may cause the light to spread out more, while decreasing the length of the pulse may cause it to become more focused. By manipulating the length of the pulse parameter, physicists can learn more about the properties of light and how it behaves under different conditions.
Economics — price
Section titled “Economics — price”In economics, the price of a good or service is often considered a parameter that can be changed in order to test its effect on demand.
Biology — chemical concentration
Section titled “Biology — chemical concentration”In biology, the concentration of a particular chemical in a solution may be a parameter that is varied in order to see how it affects the growth or behavior of an organism.
Computer science — dataset size and iterations
Section titled “Computer science — dataset size and iterations”In computer science, the size of a dataset or the number of iterations in an algorithm may be considered parameters that can be changed in order to optimize the performance of the system.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Scientific research, engineering, and data analysis use parameters to understand how different variables interact with one another and to investigate system behavior.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Variable
- Value
- Outcome