# Some basic questions on Fortran

**URL:** https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/some-basic-questions-on-fortran/825
**Category:** Help
**Created:** [March 13, 2021, 9:17am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/some-basic-questions-on-fortran/825 "2021-03-13T09:17:28Z")
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### Author: ![billlong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@billlong](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/billlong)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/some-basic-questions-on-fortran/825/8 "2021-03-14T13:37:59Z")

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The statement

a = b

causes the value of the array b to be copied into the array a. It is not necessary to allocate any new hidden memory.

The notation string(1:1) is the correct syntax to designate the character in string at location 1.

Depending on the circumstance, Fortran passes procedure arguments by one of three methods: “reference” (the address of the argument is passed), “value” (the value of the argument is passed), or “descriptor” (the address of a descriptor for the argument is passed). Descriptors are sometimes called “dope vectors”.

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