Editing Scope (computer science) (section)

== Use ==
Scope is an important component of [[Name resolution (programming languages)|name resolution]],{{efn|"Name resolution" and "name binding" are largely synonymous; narrowly speaking "resolution" determines to which name a particular use of a name refers, without associating it with any meaning, as in [[higher-order abstract syntax]], while "binding" associates the name with an actual meaning. In practice the terms are used interchangeably.}} which is in turn fundamental to [[Formal semantics of programming languages|language semantics]]. Name resolution (including scope) varies between programming languages, and within a programming language, varies by type of entity; the rules for scope are called '''scope rules''' (or '''scoping rules'''). Together with [[namespaces]], scope rules are crucial in [[modular programming]], so a change in one part of the program does not break an unrelated part.