# How to know the string data/settings, of some options/functions

It is known that several functions and options take some sort of input in this form:

option->"something"
function["something"]


The simple example for this is the PlotTheme in plot:

Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, 10}, PlotTheme -> "Marketing"];


Another example is:

Graph[{1 <-> 2, 2 <-> 3, 3 <-> 1}, VertexShapeFunction -> "Square"];


Some functions have an input in the same manner

For example:

GraphElementData["GraphStyle"];


My questions are:

1- what are these "something" called. I have seen some places they are called settings and some other places called data.

2- How can I search these "something". Most of them are not in the documentation and also some options and functions does not list all of its such input in the documentation.

3- How can I list all of these "something" that an option or function can have as input.

I hope I can get a detailed answer for this

Thank you

• I recall someone posting some code for this a few years ago. It may have been @Nasser. If he does not reply I will see if I can dig it up – Mike Honeychurch Dec 9 '15 at 2:29
• @MikeHoneychurch It was this how-to-extract-a-list-of-available-method-s but it does not work on the above examples. I just tried it. – Nasser Dec 9 '15 at 4:31
• @Nasser thanks. re-reading your post I now remember that your code was written for Method options. It looks like something that could be re-written for this question though? – Mike Honeychurch Dec 9 '15 at 4:53
• As you type Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, 10}, PlotTheme -> a pop-up selection menu will appear with the valid entries. Similarly for Graph[{1 <-> 2, 2 <-> 3, 3 <-> 1}, VertexShapeFunction -> – Bob Hanlon Dec 9 '15 at 4:59
• @MikeHoneychurch It looks like something that could be re-written for this question though? that might be possible. I do not know now. When finals are over, will see if I can change it to do what is being asked here. Unless someone has a better answer meanwhile. – Nasser Dec 9 '15 at 5:02