# () reserved characters

The () (left and right parentheses)
reserved characters surround arguments within functions, encloses
subscript references within dimensioned arrays, and override the normal
order of precedence evaluation.

Note: For every (, there must be an associated ).

## Example(s)

() as a function
delimiter:

```
if not(num(response)) then crt "must be numeric!"
```
As a dimensioned array reference:

```
if cust.array(22) = "" then cust.array(22) = "hold"
```
Changing precedence in an arithmetic expression:

```
age = (today - birthday) / "365"
```
Without grouping precedence, the above calculation produces
an inaccurate result due to the fact that division occurs at a higher
level of precedence than subtraction.

## See also

- [Arithmetic expressions](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/arithmetic-expressions/)
- [Array references](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/array-references/)
- [Arrays](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/arrays/)
- [Attribute count expression](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/attribute-count-expression/)
- [matread statement](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/matread-statement/)
- [Precedence](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/precedence/)
- [[] reserved characters](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/brackets-reserved-characters/)

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Source: https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/parenthesis-reserved-characters/ - part of the D3Codex reference.