Limit number of parameters per method?

Question

Assuming the parameters are all the same type, is there a rule of thumb in regards to the number of parameters for a method? Im just wondering where I should draw the line and

Answer 1

I try to limit it to 4 or so. Some people say less, some say more.

The alternative to tons of parameters would be to create an operation class, i.e. replace:

func(boo, far, lint, pizza, flags);

with

var action = new DoSomethingObject(boo, far, lint);
action.Food = pizza;
action.Go(flags);

This has a few advantages over the function:

• If some parameters are optional, you can expose them as properties (such as pizza above).
• If your function takes that many arguments, chances are it does a lot, and could be broken into smaller functions. A class helps you do this cleanly.