text: what is a parameter?   a parameter is an argument of a mathematical function that is considered in some way incidental or secondary within a particular context of discussion. thus, what is considered a principal argument and what is considered a parameter may change from one context to the next.  for example, a parametric equaliser is an audio filter that allows the frequency of maximum cut or boost to be set by one control, and the size of the cut or boost by another. these settings, the frequency level of the peak or trough, are two of the parameters of a frequency response curve, and in a two-control equaliser they completely describe the curve. more elaborate parametric equalisers may allow other parameters to be varied, such as skew. these parameters each describe some aspect of the response curve seen as a whole, over all frequencies. a graphic equaliser provides individual level controls for various frequency bands, each of which acts only on that particular frequency band.