What are parameters in function definitions used for?

Parameters in function definitions play a crucial role in allowing a function to receive input values when it is called. When you define a function, parameters act as placeholders for the values that will be passed into the function during its execution. This feature enables the function to operate on different inputs without the need to rewrite code, enhancing reusability and flexibility.

For instance, if you have a function that calculates the area of a rectangle, you can define parameters for the length and width. When the function is called, you can pass different values for these parameters, and the function will compute the area based on the inputs provided at that time. This concept is foundational in programming, allowing for dynamic and interactive code execution.

The other options touch on aspects not relevant to the primary purpose of parameters in a function. For example, defining the return type is related to what the function sends back after execution, while storing static data and specifying the order of execution are not functions of parameters themselves. Thus, the correct understanding of parameters being for input values directly aligns with their purpose in function definitions.