Name this python/ruby language construct (using array values to satisfy function parameters)

Question

What is this language construct called?

In Python I can say:

def a(b,c): return b+c
a(*[4,5])

and get 9. Likewise in Ruby:

Answer 1

In ruby, it is often called "splat".

Also in ruby, you can use it to mean 'all of the other elements in the list'.

a, *rest = [1,2,3,4,5,6]
a     # => 1
rest  # => [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

It can also appear on either side of the assignment operator:

a  = d, *e

In this usage, it is a bit like scheme's cdr, although it needn't be all but the head of the list.