“Foo bar baz” are placeholder names used in computer programming, with “foo” possibly originating from comics and cartoons. “Foobar” may come from the WWII acronym “fubar”. These terms are part of a special category of placeholder names known as metasyntactic variables.
Foo bar baz are placeholder names used in computer programming to fill in unknown, flexible, or as yet undecided variables, including events or processes. For example, during the creation of the code, a process could invoke another, referred to in computer jargon as “foo call bar”.
While foo bar baz might sound alien, most people use placeholder names all the time. Thingamajig, whatshisface, Jane Doe, John Q. Public, doodad, and gizmo are all placeholder names. Foo bar baz falls into a special category of placeholder names known as metasyntactic variables, specific to programming syntax and algorithms.
Foo is probably most recognized by the average computer user. Foo might appear alone or together with bar, as in “Create a top-level domain like foobar.com.” Baz, when it appears, typically follows foo and bar. With the popularity of computers, this expression has leaked into the mainstream vocabulary as hip slang.
Foo bar baz thrived without explanation as to where, exactly, the terms came from. The bizarre world of programming has its own style and brand of humor, sometimes popularizing arcane references from various sources that might be surprisingly mainstream, if not obvious. Namely, Reference For Comments (RFC) 3092 was published on April 1, 2001, which perhaps reveals the root of foo.
While foo cannot be traced to a single source, RFC 3092 points to several references to foo as a nonsense word seen in comics and cartoons circa 1930-1952. In an episode of Warner Brothers’ Daffy Duck precursor, RFC 3092 states that Daffy Doc holds up a sign that says “SILENCE IS FOO!” Also mentioned are Walt Kelly’s Pogo strips and Bill Holman’s Smokey Stover comics. Firefighter Smokey Stover drove a Foomobile, uttering phrases like “Where there’s foo there’s fire!” Writer Holman allegedly saw the word printed on the underside of a figurine from China, where “fu/foo” sometimes translates to happiness.
While “foo” predates the 1940s, the foobar part is similar to WWII, fubar, an acronym for “F—ed Up Beyond All Recognition”. Most investigations into foobar’s origins point to this reference as at least partially responsible for foobar.
Foo bar baz is the technically correct ordering for these metasyntactic variables, however, you might see placeholders like “foobaz” or “barbaz”. Foobar is also used as slang for something that doesn’t make sense or is ridiculous. For the most part, however, finding the written expression as such in your internet wanderings isn’t as common as finding foo or foobar.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
