What are special variables used to pass values into a sub program called?

Parameters are special variables defined in a subprogram that are used to accept values when the subprogram is called. When a subprogram (like a function or a method) is created, parameters serve as placeholders for the data that will be provided to it. This allows for greater flexibility and reusability, as the subprogram can then operate on different values depending on what is passed to it at runtime.

For instance, if you have a function that calculates the area of a rectangle, you would define parameters for width and height. When you call the function, you can pass in different values for these parameters to calculate the area for different rectangles, without modifying the function itself.

The other options, while related to programming, do not accurately describe variables that pass values into a subprogram. Arguments are the actual values passed to the function during the call, which correspond to the parameters defined in the subprogram. Default values refer to pre-set values assigned to parameters if no value is provided during the function call. Data types pertain to the kinds of values that variables can hold, which are not specifically related to the passing of values into subprograms.