• Parameter 1: Default category name (without Category) – the category if there is no date, but also the stem of the category name when there is a date..
  • Parameter 2: Preposition (from, since, in, as of).
  • Parameter 3: Date (month year, e.g. ඔක්තෝබර් 2024. Usually the "date" parameter of the calling template {{{date|}}}.
  • Parameter 4: Category all the articles go in, dated or not (if there is one).
  • Parameter 5: Alternative default category, used when parameter 1 is right for forming the dated category, but the undated items need to go somewhere else.

The parameter onlyarticles ({{Dated maintenance category}} only) is used for template design, restricting the function of this template to article namespace (as in {{DMCA}} ).

An incorrect date is any date which is not of the form ඔක්තෝබර් 2024, e.g. ඔක්තෝබර් 25, 2024, or june instead of June, or other spelling mistakes.

DMCA stands for "dated maintenance category – articles". Similar templates exist for certain other namespaces or combinations. DMCA is a metatemplate with highly circumscribed use, and not intended to be "editor facing".