Dependent Variable

What Does Dependent Variable Mean?

In computing, a dependent variable is any variable whose value, output or functioning depends on two or more independent variables.

Advertisements

A dependent variable is used in computer programming to represent a value, process, function or entity within the programming paradigm/context/architecture.

A dependent variable is also known as an outcome variable.

Techopedia Explains Dependent Variable

A dependent variable is primarily a value that is being accessed, evaluated or calculated within/through a computer program or process. The value of the dependent value entirely depends on independent variables that can have any value within the context in which they’re being used.

For example, the total number of visits to a website is dependent on adding traffic from all sources and channels. Therefore, the traffic channel and sources are independent variables that can take any value, but the total number of visitors entirely depends on the independent values.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Computer Science Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…