Use of the Word 'Argument'

I have often wondered about the wording and character symbols used in the creation of a program and applications.

I would like to concentrate on specific words for a little while and I would like to start with the word 'ARGUMENT' or 'args' used in the creation of a program.

Question:

Why is this word used?

Is it only used in Java programs?

Why can't another word resembling it be used instead?

I hope these are questions I can ask here on 'bleepingcomputer'.

I look forward to your replies.

Why is the word used?

I think this is a good discussion of the topic - I tend to favor the "argument" that the word came from mathematics, as in "argument to a function":

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/144141/what-is-the-sense-of-using-word-argument-for-inputs-of-a-function

Is it only used in Java programs?

No. But Java is the only language I know of where args is required to execute main program function.

People often speak of command line arguments. Java was built using C/C++, which uses args

Why can't another word resembling it be used instead?

Depending on the context, people might substitute "parameter" or "switches," but within a language like Java, arguments is considered correct. 

You would be surprised how a word can take hold in programming, and continue to be used outside its original context. The original hackers at MIT used the term "foo" in a pretty specific context, and "foo" soon became the prototypical function that programming manuals and books used as their example when describing how functions operate.

Speaking of "functions" - one language might call it a "function," and another language might call it a "method."

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_computer_term_etymologies

Dear BC Advisor

It has been a while since I have come to this site, so sorry for being so long to thank you for your reply.

From the point of view of a function (the developer of the function) it has zero or more parameters.

From the point of view of a caller of a function (the developer using the function) the function has zero or more arguments.

Differences Between Parameters and Arguments - Visual Basic | Microsoft Docs