Wikipedia defines it as the metasyntactic variable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metasyntactic_variable
"A metasyntactic variable is either a placeholder name (a kind of alias
term, commonly used to denote the subject matter under discussion), or a
random member of a class of things under discussion. The term originates
from computer programming and other technical contexts, and is commonly used
in examples by hackers and programmers. The use of a metasyntactic variable
is helpful in freeing a programmer from creating a logically named variable,
although the invented term may also become sufficiently popular and enter
the language as a neologism. The word foo is the canonical example (it is
known as the canonical metasyntactical variable).
The phenomenon is similar to the use in algebra of x, y and z for unknown
variables, and a, b and c for unknown constants. "Widgets" are also used in
business to indicate an as-yet-unspecified product and are frequently sold
by the Acme company."
Scott
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:owner-
> [email protected]] On Behalf Of b. water
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 11:46 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: st: the meaning of 'foo'
>
> hi all,
>
> without wanting to sound irreverent, i wonder whether someone could tell
> me the meaning or full expression of the abbreviation 'foo' so often used
> to illustrate Stata advice/help. i have always wanted to know this but
> now, my curiosity got the better of me. i simply have to ask.
>
> apologies if it has nothing to do with either statistics or Stata.
>
> regards,
> bw
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