目录

Documentation comment references

Doc comments can contain references to various identifiers. Elements, such as functions and classes, can be referenced by wrapping their name in square brackets ([...]) in a doc comment (a comment starting with ///). Some examples:

dart
/// Returns a [String].
String f() => 'Hello';

/// Wraps [object] with [Future.value].
Future<T> g<T>(T object) => Future.value(object);

These doc comments contain references to the String class, the object parameter, and the Future.value constructor.

Features of references

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There are several benefits to referring to code elements with doc comment references:

Editor support

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Doc comment references enable several IDE features:

  • Code completion An element's name can be code-completed within square brackets.
  • Rename refactoring When an element is renamed via an IDE command, the IDE can rewrite uses of that element, including references in doc comments.
  • Find references When an IDE lists all "references" to an element, it can include references in doc comments.
  • Go to definition An IDE can also provide Go-to-definition support at the location of a doc comment reference.

API documentation

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In API documentation generated by dart doc, a doc comment reference is linked, if possible, to the documentation page of the element being referenced. If the element does not have a documentation page (for example, a function parameter, a type parameter, or a private class), then no link is created.

What can be referenced

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Most library members can be referenced in a doc comment, including classes, constants, enums, named extensions, extension types, functions, mixins, and type aliases. This includes all in-scope library members, either declared locally, or imported. Library members that are imported with an import prefix can be referenced with the prefix. For example:

dart
import 'dart:math' as math;

/// [List] is in scope.
/// So is [math.max].
int x = 7;

Most members of a class, an enum, an extension, an extension type, and a mixin can also be referenced. A reference to a member that is not in scope must be qualified (prefixed) with its container's name. For example the wait static method on the Future class can be referenced in a doc comment with [Future.wait]. This is true for instance members as well; the add method and the length property on the List class can be referenced with [List.add] and [List.length]. When container members are in-scope, such as in an instance method's doc comment, they can be referenced without the qualifying container name:

dart
abstract class MyList<E> implements List<E> {
  /// Refer to [add] and [contains], which is declared on [Iterable].
  void myMethod() {}
}

Unnamed constructors can be referenced by using the new name, similar to the tear-off of an unnamed constructor. For example, [DateTime.new] is a reference to the unnamed DateTime constructor.

Parameters of a function and parameters of a function type can be referenced in a doc comment only when they are in scope. They can therefore only be referenced within a doc comment on such a parameter's function or on a type alias for such a parameter's enclosing function type.

Type parameters can be referenced in a doc comment only when they are in scope. Therefore, a type parameter of a method, top-level function, or type alias can only be referenced within a doc comment on that element, and a type parameter of a class, enum, extension, extension type, and mixin can only be referenced within a doc comment on that element or on one of its members.