Memi.Reflection

Private members of memi's thoughts

Foo & Bar

Since my early programming days I've seen code samples with Foo and Bar as method and variables names.

I've googled for their source, but just couldn't find anything about them. Maybe someone here can help me, and write where did this couple come from, and what is the meaning of them? Why did the software industry picked those two names instead of something less exotic, like A and B?

Posted: Feb 24 2004, 03:20 PM by memi | with 5 comment(s)
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Comments

Kent Tegels said:

Go find the K&R C programming book. That's where I saw them in the trade first. Its an old military phrase for "f'ed up."
# February 24, 2004 8:27 AM

Karl said:

You mustn't have googled very hard:

Foobar:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/foobar.html

Fubar:
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci748437,00.html
# February 24, 2004 8:33 AM

Ian Cooper said:

Go to http://www.mcs.kent.edu/docs/general/hackersdict/02Entries

and see the entry for 'foo' which has the most comprehensive eytmology for programmer's use of foo and bar in variable names.
# February 24, 2004 8:33 AM

Omer van Kloeten said:

Originates from F.U.B.A.R: [f(ucked) u(p) b(eyond) a(ll) r(ecognition).]
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fubar&r=67
# February 24, 2004 9:00 AM

Memi Lavi said:

Thanks, Ian & Omer. Looks like the links you brought solved this accute problem.

Karl, the link you brought only explains that these vars used in many samples. Well, this I already know...
# February 24, 2004 1:07 PM
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