# References in functions?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/references-in-functions/235801>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [August 14, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/references-in-functions/235801 "2007-08-14T21:20:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![superpeppe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@superpeppe](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/superpeppe)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/references-in-functions/235801/1 "2007-08-14T21:20:15Z")

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Hi

I’m pretty new to actionscript, so This question might sound stupid but here it comes:

When you in a function pass a reference e.g: “private function test (argument:Sprite)…” does flash copy the sprite into the function which in my opinion would take a lot of time, or does it simply paste a reference? Actually we could compare it to a filesystem, does it copy the directory and name, or does it copy the whole file?

I am sure it must be the first, but I just wanted to be absolutely sure:D

Thanks in advance