Group related parameters into a class or record for better organization, flexibility, reusability, and readability.
Passing many parameters to a method makes code harder to read, maintain, and use correctly. This forces anyone reading or using the method to keep track of many details at once, increasing cognitive load.
By grouping related values into a class, you improve code organization, make it easier to extend functionality, and clarify the intent of your methods for anyone reading or using them.
A method with a long parameter list is difficult to read and easy to misuse:
public void RegisterUser(
string firstName,
string lastName,
string email,
string phone,
DateTime birthDate,
string address,
string zipCode,
string country,
string gender)
{
// Use firstName, lastName
}
Call site:
RegisterUser(
"Jane",
"Doe",
"jane@example.com",
"1234567890",
new DateTime(1990, 1, 1),
"123 Main St",
"12345",
"USA",
"Female"
);
It’s easy to mix up parameters or forget one, and the method signature doesn’t communicate the intent or structure of the data.
A class groups related data, making the code more organized, flexible, and reusable:
public class UserRegistration
{
public string FirstName { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public string Email { get; set; }
public string Phone { get; set; }
public DateTime BirthDate { get; set; }
public string Address { get; set; }
public string ZipCode { get; set; }
public string Country { get; set; }
public string Gender { get; set; }
}
public void RegisterUser(UserRegistration registration)
{
// Use registration.FirstName, registration.LastName, ...
}
Call site:
RegisterUser(new UserRegistration
{
FirstName = "Jane",
LastName = "Doe",
Email = "jane@example.com",
Phone = "1234567890",
BirthDate = new DateTime(1990, 1, 1),
Address = "123 Main St",
ZipCode = "12345",
Country = "USA",
Gender = "Female"
});
This approach makes the method signature concise and clear. The class can be reused in other contexts, and adding a new property (like “PreferredLanguage”) only requires updating the class, not every method and call site.
When requirements change, such as adding or removing fields, using a class means you only update the class definition. This avoids breaking multiple method signatures and keeps your codebase consistent.
Classes also support validation, immutability, and can be extended with additional logic if needed.
Most importantly, code that uses well-named classes is much more readable and self-explanatory, making onboarding and code reviews easier.