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

The majority of the questions have already been answered, but as to the question "What is the name of the * operator?": the technical term is "asterisk" (comes from the Latin word asteriscum, meaning "little star", which, in turn, comes from the Greek ἀστερίσκος). Often, though, it will be referred to as "star" or, as stated above, "splat".