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Back Story

I created for this question: Is it possible to write reusable method that only some of its parameters are different? It has since been brought up that this may not be a good tag. I am here to present my arguments for and get the community's feedback on the matter.

Use Cases

I feel this tag should be used when the question directly relates to the proper use of arguments/parameters. It should not be used for a question simply because an argument is used. To clarify, these would be good uses of the tag:

And these would be a poor use of the tag:

Note that the questions I called out as a bad use of the tag simply make mention of, or use arguments. The questions are not about arguments. All questions came from this list of candidate questions for the arguments tag.

Precedent

There is already a precedent for using tags for questions about particular programming constructs. Here is an non-exhaustive list.

Closing Argument

Tags are not just for labeling a question with what technologies it uses. They are not just for connecting experts to questions. I'll admit, it would be difficult for a person to be considered an expert on , but I never felt that was a compelling argument against a tag anyway. This is because tags are for categorizing questions. They're for making questions easier to search and filter. They're for helping us understand what a question is about at a glance. I think, if properly used, an argument tag would fill that role nicely.

So, yea or nay?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Never seen a duck make such a good argument... Have a +1 Quack! \$\endgroup\$
    – Phrancis
    Oct 24, 2014 at 14:36
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    \$\begingroup\$ Would it start flame wars ? \$\endgroup\$ Oct 26, 2014 at 8:48
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    \$\begingroup\$ Have we already decided not to have a parameters tag? We should only have one of arguments and parameters as tags (a synonym is possible for the second). \$\endgroup\$
    – Brythan
    Oct 27, 2014 at 22:18
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Brythan I agree. I think it makes sense to create the parameters tag and immediately create the synonym. \$\endgroup\$
    – RubberDuck
    Oct 27, 2014 at 22:59
  • \$\begingroup\$ This question has introduced a variadic tag. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 21, 2014 at 0:48

3 Answers 3

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Apologies for the tardy reply... but:

NO

this is a bad tag, and it should not exist on Code Review.

Arguments vs. Parameters

For a start, what you're talking about are not arguments, but parameters.

Parameters are named variables that are part of a method declaration/signature. Arguments are the actual values that are passed in to the parameters of a method. So, for example,

myMethod(MyClass val) { ... }

MyClass tmp = new MyClass();

myMethod(tmp);

in the above, myMethod is the method. val is the parameter, and tmp is the argument.

In your question, you are calling the parameters "arguments".

So, apart from that, let's consider the tag: .

Do we need that?

[Parameters]: Useful?

NO, and the first reason is that none of the examples you present are going to be usefully tagged with it:

The only time I can think of the tag would be useful, is when the code itself is processing parameters in a general way, like reflection, or a compiler. I can see a use then.

If we allow to exist as a tag for questions wondering whether the parameters are "OK", then we should also have tags:

Tags should represent aspects about the code, whether it is the language, or what the code DOES, and tags are not there to reflect the concerns the person has about the code.

That's what the description is for.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Umm @rolfl, we actually do have functions, conditions, and class \$\endgroup\$
    – RubberDuck
    Oct 28, 2014 at 13:47
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    \$\begingroup\$ Just because there are other examples of bad tagging, does not mean that we should continue it. \$\endgroup\$
    – rolfl
    Oct 28, 2014 at 13:48
  • \$\begingroup\$ I've yet to be convinced that they are examples of bad tagging. My apologies, but we'll have to disagree about that. \$\endgroup\$
    – RubberDuck
    Oct 28, 2014 at 13:52
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    \$\begingroup\$ @RubberDuck I don't think an opinion is something to apologise for. \$\endgroup\$
    – Vogel612
    Oct 28, 2014 at 14:01
  • \$\begingroup\$ @rolfl can we go ahead and get a status declined on this one? Enough people think this is a bad tag that I don't think it should move forward. (Doesn't mean that I'm convinced it's a bad tag though. =;)- \$\endgroup\$
    – RubberDuck
    Oct 29, 2014 at 9:02
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Upvote this if you think that this duck makes a good argument for the tag.

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Upvote this if you would rather not see this tag created. You may also wish to post an answer of your own with your reasoning.

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