cParams

cParams is a term used in software engineering to denote a container object that groups a set of configuration or control parameters for a component, module, or algorithm. The name is often shorthand for configuration parameters or control parameters. In practice, cParams serves as a central point for parameter management, rather than passing many individual values through multiple function calls.

The main purpose of a cParams object is to simplify interfaces, provide sensible defaults, and enable validation and dynamic reconfiguration at runtime. It typically stores pairs of parameter names and values, and may organize related parameters into nested groups. Many implementations support merging overrides from sources such as configuration files, environment variables, or user input.

Implementation patterns vary by language. In statically typed languages a cParams may be a dedicated configuration struct or class with typed fields; in dynamic languages it may be a dictionary or map augmented with helper methods. Common features include default values, type checks, serialization (for persistence or transport), and copy or clone semantics to avoid shared mutable state.

Caveats include potential obscuring of which parameters are required, reduced compile-time checking, and the risk of runtime errors if keys or types change. Careful validation, documentation, and clear naming help mitigate these issues.

See also configuration management, parameter object, options pattern.