# Conventions in function descriptions #

This page describes the conventions used throughout this guide when referring to items in a function\.

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Conventions in function descriptions  

Table 1\. Conventions in function descriptions

| Convention               | Description                                                                              |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| *BOOL*                   | A Boolean, or flag, such as true or false\.                                              |
| *NUM*, *NUM1*, *NUM2*    | Any number\.                                                                             |
| *REAL*, *REAL1*, *REAL2* | Any real number, such as `1.234` or `–77.01`\.                                           |
| *INT*, *INT1*, *INT2*    | Any integer, such as `1` or `–77`\.                                                      |
| *CHAR*                   | A character code, such as `` `A` ``\.                                                    |
| *STRING*                 | A string, such as `"referrerID"`\.                                                       |
| *LIST*                   | A list of items, such as `["abc" "def"]` or `[A1, A2, A3]` or `[1 2 4 16]`\.             |
| *ITEM*                   | A field, such as `Customer` or `extract_concept`\.                                       |
| *DATE*                   | A date field, such as `start_date`, where values are in a format such as `DD-MON-YYYY`\. |
| *TIME*                   | A time field, such as `power_flux`, where values are in a format such as `HHMMSS`\.      |

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Functions in this guide are listed with the function in one column, the result type (integer, string, and so on) in another, and a description (where available) in a third column\. For example, following is a description of the `rem` function\.

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rem function description  

Table 2\. rem function description

| Function        | Result   | Description                                                                                        |
| --------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `INT1 rem INT2` | *Number* | Returns the remainder of *INT1* divided by *INT2*\. For example, `INT1 – (INT1 div INT2)* INT2`\. |

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Details on usage conventions, such as how to list items or specify characters in a function, are described elsewhere\. See [CLEM datatypes](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsd/nodes/clem_reference/clem_datatypes.html#clem_datatypes) for more information\.

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