OblInt

OblInt, short for "obligatory integer," is a term used in computer science and programming to describe an integer value that must be included in a function or method signature, even if it is not used within the function's body. This practice is often employed to adhere to specific programming conventions, APIs, or to maintain compatibility with certain libraries or frameworks. OblInts are typically used as placeholders or to satisfy syntactic requirements, and their actual value may be irrelevant to the function's logic. For example, in some graphical APIs, a function might require an integer parameter to specify a window or context ID, even if the function does not use this value internally. The use of OblInts can sometimes lead to confusion or unnecessary complexity in code, as developers may wonder why a seemingly unused parameter is required. However, they can also serve as a form of documentation, indicating that a particular value is expected or required by the function's interface. In some cases, OblInts can be replaced with more descriptive or meaningful parameter names to improve code readability.