What's the best way to refactor a method that has too many (6+) parameters?

Question

Occasionally I come across methods with an uncomfortable number of parameters. More often than not, they seem to be constructors. It seems like there ought to be a better way, but I can't see what it is.

return new Shniz(foo, bar, baz, quux, fred, wilma, barney, dino, donkey)

I've thought of using structs to represent the list of parameters, but that just seems to shift the problem from one place to another, and create another type in the process.

ShnizArgs args = new ShnizArgs(foo, bar, baz, quux, fred, wilma, barney, dino, donkey)
return new Shniz(args);

So that doesn't seem like an improvement. So what is the best approach?

Answer 1

I'm going to assume you mean C#. Some of these things apply to other languages, too.

You have several options:

switch from constructor to property setters. This can make code more readable, because it's obvious to the reader which value corresponds to which parameters. Object Initializer syntax makes this look nice. It's also simple to implement, since you can just use auto-generated properties and skip writing the constructors.

class C
{
    public string S { get; set; }
    public int I { get; set; }
}

new C { S = "hi", I = 3 };

However, you lose immutability, and you lose the ability to ensure that the required values are set before using the object at compile time.

Builder Pattern.

Think about the relationship between string and StringBuilder. You can get this for your own classes. I like to implement it as a nested class, so class C has related class C.Builder. I also like a fluent interface on the builder. Done right, you can get syntax like this:

C c = new C.Builder()
    .SetX(4)    // SetX is the fluent equivalent to a property setter
    .SetY("hello")
    .ToC();     // ToC is the builder pattern analog to ToString()

// Modify without breaking immutability
c = c.ToBuilder().SetX(2).ToC();

// Still useful to have a traditional ctor:
c = new C(1, "...");

// And object initializer syntax is still available:
c = new C.Builder { X = 4, Y = "boing" }.ToC();

I have a PowerShell script that lets me generate the builder code to do all this, where the input looks like:

class C {
    field I X
    field string Y
}

So I can generate at compile time. partial classes let me extend both the main class and the builder without modifying the generated code.

"Introduce Parameter Object" refactoring. See the Refactoring Catalog. The idea is that you take some of the parameters you're passing and put them in to a new type, and then pass an instance of that type instead. If you do this without thinking, you will end up back where you started:

new C(a, b, c, d);

becomes

new C(new D(a, b, c, d));

However, this approach has the greatest potential to make a positive impact on your code. So, continue by following these steps:

1. Look for subsets of parameters that make sense together. Just mindlessly grouping all parameters of a function together doesn't get you much; the goal is to have groupings that make sense. You'll know you got it right when the name of the new type is obvious.

2. Look for other places where these values are used together, and use the new type there, too. Chances are, when you've found a good new type for a set of values that you already use all over the place, that new type will make sense in all those places, too.

3. Look for functionality that is in the existing code, but belongs on the new type.

For example, maybe you see some code that looks like:

bool SpeedIsAcceptable(int minSpeed, int maxSpeed, int currentSpeed)
{
    return currentSpeed >= minSpeed & currentSpeed < maxSpeed;
}

You could take the minSpeed and maxSpeed parameters and put them in a new type:

class SpeedRange
{
   public int Min;
   public int Max;
}

bool SpeedIsAcceptable(SpeedRange sr, int currentSpeed)
{
    return currentSpeed >= sr.Min & currentSpeed < sr.Max;
}

This is better, but to really take advantage of the new type, move the comparisons into the new type:

class SpeedRange
{
   public int Min;
   public int Max;

   bool Contains(int speed)
   {
       return speed >= min & speed < Max;
   }
}

bool SpeedIsAcceptable(SpeedRange sr, int currentSpeed)
{
    return sr.Contains(currentSpeed);
}

And now we're getting somewhere: the implementation of SpeedIsAcceptable() now says what you mean, and you have a useful, reusable class. (The next obvious step is to make SpeedRange in to Range<Speed>.)

As you can see, Introduce Parameter Object was a good start, but its real value was that it helped us discover a useful type that has been missing from our model.

Answer 2

The best way would be to find ways to group the arguments together. This assumes, and really only works if, you would end up with multiple "groupings" of arguments.

For instance, if you are passing the specification for a rectangle, you can pass x, y, width, and height or you could just pass a rectangle object that contains x, y, width, and height.

Look for things like this when refactoring to clean it up somewhat. If the arguments really can't be combined, start looking at whether you have a violation of the Single Responsibility Principle.

Answer 3

If it's a constructor, particularly if there are multiple overloaded variants, you should look at the Builder pattern:

Foo foo = new Foo()
          .configBar(anything)
          .configBaz(something, somethingElse)
          // and so on

If it's a normal method, you should think about the relationships between the values being passed, and perhaps create a Transfer Object.

Answer 4

When I see long parameter lists, my first question is whether this function or object is doing too much. Consider:

EverythingInTheWorld earth=new EverythingInTheWorld(firstCustomerId,
  lastCustomerId,
  orderNumber, productCode, lastFileUpdateDate,
  employeeOfTheMonthWinnerForLastMarch,
  yearMyHometownWasIncorporated, greatGrandmothersBloodType,
  planetName, planetSize, percentWater, ... etc ...);

Of course this example is deliberately ridiculous, but I've seen plenty of real programs with examples only slightly less ridiculous, where one class is used to hold many barely related or unrelated things, apparently just because the same calling program needs both or because the programmer happened to think of both at the same time. Sometimes the easy solution is to just break the class into multiple pieces each of which does its own thing.

Just slightly more complicated is when a class really does need to deal with multiple logical things, like both a customer order and general information about the customer. In these cases, crate a class for customer and a class for order, and let them talk to each other as necessary. So instead of:

 Order order=new Order(customerName, customerAddress, customerCity,
   customerState, customerZip,
   orderNumber, orderType, orderDate, deliveryDate);

We could have:

Customer customer=new Customer(customerName, customerAddress,
  customerCity, customerState, customerZip);
Order order=new Order(customer, orderNumber, orderType, orderDate, deliveryDate);

While of course I prefer functions that take just 1 or 2 or 3 parameters, sometimes we have to accept that, realistically, this function takes a bunch, and that the number of itself does not really create complexity. For example:

Employee employee=new Employee(employeeId, firstName, lastName,
  socialSecurityNumber,
  address, city, state, zip);

Yeah, it's a bunch of fields, but probably all we're going to do with them is save them to a database record or throw them on a screen or some such. There's not really a lot of processing here.

When my parameter lists do get long, I much prefer if I can give the fields different data types. Like when I see a function like:

void updateCustomer(String type, String status,
  int lastOrderNumber, int pastDue, int deliveryCode, int birthYear,
  int addressCode,
  boolean newCustomer, boolean taxExempt, boolean creditWatch,
  boolean foo, boolean bar);

And then I see it called with:

updateCustomer("A", "M", 42, 3, 1492, 1969, -7, true, false, false, true, false);

I get concerned. Looking at the call, it's not at all clear what all these cryptic numbers, codes, and flags mean. This is just asking for errors. A programmer might easily get confused about the order of the parameters and accidentally switch two, and if they're the same data type, the compiler would just accept it. I'd much rather have a signature where all these things are enums, so a call passes in things like Type.ACTIVE instead of "A" and CreditWatch.NO instead of "false", etc.

Answer 5

The classic answer to this is to use a class to encapsulate some, or all, of the parameters. In theory that sounds great, but I'm the kind of guy who creates classes for concepts that have meaning in the domain, so it's not always easy to apply this advice.

E.g. instead of:

driver.connect(host, user, pass)

You could use

config = new Configuration()
config.setHost(host)
config.setUser(user)
config.setPass(pass)
driver.connect(config)

YMMV

Answer 6

This is quoted from Fowler and Beck book: "Refactoring"

Long Parameter List

In our early programming days we were taught to pass in as parameters everything needed by a routine. This was understandable because the alternative was global data, and global data is evil and usually painful. Objects change this situation because if you don't have something you need, you can always ask another object to get it for you. Thus with objects you don't pass in everything the method needs; instead you pass enough so that the method can get to everything it needs. A lot of what a method needs is available on the method's host class. In object-oriented programs parameter lists tend to be much smaller than in traditional programs. This is good because long parameter lists are hard to understand, because they become inconsistent and difficult to use, and because you are forever changing them as you need more data. Most changes are removed by passing objects because you are much more likely to need to make only a couple of requests to get at a new piece of data. Use Replace Parameter with Method when you can get the data in one parameter by making a request of an object you already know about. This object might be a field or it might be another parameter. Use Preserve Whole Object to take a bunch of data gleaned from an object and replace it with the object itself. If you have several data items with no logical object, use Introduce Parameter Object. There is one important exception to making these changes. This is when you explicitly do not want to create a dependency from the called object to the larger object. In those cases unpacking data and sending it along as parameters is reasonable, but pay attention to the pain involved. If the parameter list is too long or changes too often, you need to rethink your dependency structure.

Answer 7

I don't want to sound like a wise-crack, but you should also check to make sure the data you are passing around really should be passed around: Passing stuff to a constructor (or method for that matter) smells a bit like to little emphasis on the behavior of an object.

Don't get me wrong: Methods and constructors will have a lot of parameters sometimes. But when encountered, do try to consider encapsulating data with behavior instead.

This kind of smell (since we are talking about refactoring, this horrible word seems appropriate...) might also be detected for objects that have a lot (read: any) properties or getters/setters.

Answer 8

If some of the constructor parameters are optional it makes sense to use a builder, which would get the required parameters in the constructor, and have methods for the optional ones, returning the builder, to be used like this:

return new Shniz.Builder(foo, bar).baz(baz).quux(quux).build();

The details of this are described in Effective Java, 2nd Ed., p. 11. For method arguments, the same book (p. 189) describes three approaches for shortening parameter lists:

• Break the method into multiple methods that take fewer arguments
• Create static helper member classes to represent groups of parameters, i.e. pass a DinoDonkey instead of dino and donkey
• If parameters are optional, the builder above can be adopted for methods, defining an object for all parameters, setting the required ones and then calling some execute method on it

Answer 9

You can try to group your parameter into multiples meaningful struct/class (if possible).

Answer 10

I would generally lean towards the structs approach - presumably the majority of these parameters are related in some way and represent the state of some element that is relevant to your method.

If the set of parameters can't be made into a meaningful object, that's probably a sign that Shniz is doing too much, and the refactoring should involve breaking the method down into separate concerns.

Answer 11

I would use the default constructor and property settors. C# 3.0 has some nice syntax to do this automagically.

return new Shniz { Foo = foo,
                   Bar = bar,
                   Baz = baz,
                   Quuz = quux,
                   Fred = fred,
                   Wilma = wilma,
                   Barney = barney,
                   Dino = dino,
                   Donkey = donkey
                 };

The code improvement comes in simplifying the constructor and not having to support multiple methods to support various combinations. The "calling" syntax is still a little "wordy", but not really any worse than calling the property settors manually.

Answer 12

You haven't provided enough information to warrant a good answer. A long parameter list isn't inherently bad.

Shniz(foo, bar, baz, quux, fred, wilma, barney, dino, donkey)

could be interpreted as:

void Shniz(int foo, int bar, int baz, int quux, int fred, 
           int wilma, int barney, int dino, int donkey) { ...

In this case you're far better off to create a class to encapsulate the parameters because you give meaning to the different parameters in a way that the compiler can check as well as visually making the code easier to read. It also makes it easier to read and refactor later.

// old way
Shniz(1,2,3,2,3,2,1,2);
Shniz(1,2,2,3,3,2,1,2); 

//versus
ShnizParam p = new ShnizParam { Foo = 1, Bar = 2, Baz = 3 };
Shniz(p);

Alternatively if you had:

void Shniz(Foo foo, Bar bar, Baz baz, Quux quux, Fred fred, 
           Wilma wilma, Barney barney, Dino dino, Donkey donkey) { ...

This is a far different case because all the objects are different (and aren't likely to be muddled up). Agreed that if all objects are necessary, and they're all different, it makes little sense to create a parameter class.

Additionally, are some parameters optional? Are there method override's (same method name, but different method signatures?) These sorts of details all matter as to what the best answer is.

* A property bag can be useful as well, but not specifically better given that there is no background given.

As you can see, there is more than 1 correct answer to this question. Take your pick.

Answer 13

If you have that many parameters, chances are that the method is doing too much, so address this first by splitting the method into several smaller methods. If you still have too many parameters after this try grouping the arguments or turning some of the parameters into instance members.

Prefer small classes/methods over large. Remember the single responsibility principle.

Answer 14

You can trade complexity for source code lines. If the method itself does too much (Swiss knife) try to halve its tasks by creating another method. If the method is simple only it needs too many parameters then the so called parameter objects are the way to go.

Answer 15

If your language supports it, use named parameters and make as many optional (with reasonable defaults) as possible.

Answer 16

I think the method you described is the way to go. When I find a method with a lot of parameters and/or one that is likely to need more in the future, I usually create a ShnizParams object to pass through, like you describe.

Answer 17

How about not setting it in all at once at the constructors but doing it via properties/setters? I have seen some .NET classes that utilize this approach such as Process class:

        Process p = new Process();

        p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        p.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
        p.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd";
        p.StartInfo.Arguments = "/c dir";
        p.Start();

Answer 18

I concur with the approach of moving the parameters into a parameter object (struct). Rather than just sticking them all in one object though, review if other functions use similar groups of parameters. A paramater object is more valuable if its used with multiple functions where you expect that set of parameters to change consistently across those functions. It may be that you only put some of the parameters into the new parameter object.

Answer 19

Named arguments are a good option (presuming a language which supports them) for disambiguating long (or even short!) parameter lists while also allowing (in the case of constructors) the class's properties to be immutable without imposing a requirement for allowing it to exist in a partially-constructed state.

The other option I would look for in doing this sort of refactor would be groups of related parameters which might be better handled as an independent object. Using the Rectangle class from an earlier answer as an example, the constructor which takes parameters for x, y, height, and width could factor x and y out into a Point object, allowing you to pass three parameters to the Rectangle's constructor. Or go a little further and make it two parameters (UpperLeftPoint, LowerRightPoint), but that would be a more radical refactoring.

Answer 20

It depends on what kind of arguments you have, but if they are a lot of boolean values/options maybe you could use a Flag Enum?

Answer 21

I think that problem is deeply tied to the domain of the problem you're trying to solve with the class.

In some cases, a 7-parameter constructor may indicate a bad class hierarchy: in that case, the helper struct/class suggested above is usually a good approach, but then you also tend to end up with loads of structs which are just property bags and don't do anything useful. The 8-argument constructor might also indicate that your class is too generic / too all-purpose so it needs a lot of options to be really useful. In that case you can either refactor the class or implement static constructors that hide the real complex constructors: eg. Shniz.NewBaz (foo, bar) could actually call the real constructor passing the right parameters.

Answer 22

One consideration is which of the values would be read-only once the object is created?

Publicly writable properties could perhaps be assigned after construction.

Where ultimately do the values come from? Perhaps some values are truely external where as others are really from some configuration or global data that is maintained by the library.

In this case you could conceal the constructor from external use and provide a Create function for it. The create function takes the truely external values and constructs the object, then uses accessors only avaiable to the library to complete the creation of the object.

It would be really strange to have an object that requires 7 or more parameters to give the object a complete state and all truely being external in nature.

Answer 23

When a clas has a constructor that takes too many arguments, it is usually a sign that it has too many responsibilities. It can probably be broken into separate classes that cooperate to give the same functionalities.

In case you really need that many arguments to a constructor, the Builder pattern can help you. The goal is to still pass all the arguments to the constructor, so its state is initialized from the start and you can still make the class immutable if needed.

See below :

public class Toto {
    private final String state0;
    private final String state1;
    private final String state2;
    private final String state3;

    public Toto(String arg0, String arg1, String arg2, String arg3) {
        this.state0 = arg0;
        this.state1 = arg1;
        this.state2 = arg2;
        this.state3 = arg3;
    }

    public static class TotoBuilder {
        private String arg0;
        private String arg1;
        private String arg2;
        private String arg3;

        public TotoBuilder addArg0(String arg) {
            this.arg0 = arg;
            return this;
        }
        public TotoBuilder addArg1(String arg) {
            this.arg1 = arg;
            return this;
        }
        public TotoBuilder addArg2(String arg) {
            this.arg2 = arg;
            return this;
        }
        public TotoBuilder addArg3(String arg) {
            this.arg3 = arg;
            return this;
        }

        public Toto newInstance() {
            // maybe add some validation ...
            return new Toto(this.arg0, this.arg1, this.arg2, this.arg3);
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Toto toto = new TotoBuilder()
            .addArg0("0")
            .addArg1("1")
            .addArg2("2")
            .addArg3("3")
            .newInstance();
    }

}

Answer 24

The short answer is that:
You need to group the related parameters or redesigning our model

Below example, the constructor takes 8 parameters

public Rectangle(
        int point1X,
        int point1Y,

        int point2X,
        int point2Y,

        int point3X,
        int point3Y,

        int point4X,
        int point4Y) {
    this.point1X = point1X;
    this.point1Y = point1Y;

    this.point2X = point2X;
    this.point2Y = point2Y;

    this.point3X = point3X;
    this.point3Y = point3Y;

    this.point4X = point4X;
    this.point4Y = point4Y;
}

After grouping the related parameters,
Then, the constructor will take ONLY 4 parameters

public Rectangle(
        Point point1,
        Point point2,
        Point point3,
        Point point4) {
    this.point1 = point1;
    this.point2 = point2;
    this.point3 = point3;
    this.point4 = point4;
}

public Point(int x, int y) {
    this.x = x;
    this.y= y;
}

Or even make the constructor smarter,
After redesigning our model
Then, the constructor will take ONLY 2 parameters

public Rectangle(
        Point leftLowerPoint,
        Point rightUpperPoint) {
    this.leftLowerPoint = leftLowerPoint;
    this.rightUpperPoint = rightUpperPoint;
}