Foo

What Does Foo Mean?

Foo is commonly used slang term in computer programming as a term to express different variables, functions and other specific concept commands.

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Techopedia Explains Foo

The meaning of foo in computer programming and pseudocode varies. Some users use the term extensively, while many others prefer descriptive names that decrease any possibility of misunderstanding.

Foo and similar terms do not have an easily traceable origin, but there are several theories. Some researchers assert that FUBAR – a German military slang term that refers to something that isn’t working – is the origin of Foo.

MIT’s Tech Model Railroad Club may be responsible for Foo’s application in the hacker and programming world, where scam switches were distributed and possibly discarded in the event of undesired conditions.

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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…