Optional 
patt:def or Optional[patt,def]
is a pattern object that represents an expression of the form patt, which, if omitted, should be replaced by the default value def.
Details

- Optional is used to specify "optional arguments" in functions represented by patterns. The pattern object p gives the form the argument should have, if it is present. The expression v gives the "default value" to use if the argument is absent.
- The form s_:v is equivalent to Optional[s_,v]. This form is also equivalent to s:_:v. There is no syntactic ambiguity since s must be a symbol in this case.
- The special form s_. is equivalent to Optional[s_] and can be used to represent function arguments which, if omitted, should be replaced by default values globally specified for the functions in which they occur.
- Values for Default[f,…] specify default values to be used when _. appears as an argument of f. Any assignments for Default[f,…] must be made before _. first appears as an argument of f.
- Optional[s_h] represents a function which can be omitted, but which, if present, must have head h. There is no simpler syntactic form for this case.
- Functions with built‐in default values include Plus, Times, and Power.
Examples
Wolfram Research (1988), Optional, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Optional.html.
Text
Wolfram Research (1988), Optional, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Optional.html.
CMS
Wolfram Language. 1988. "Optional." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Optional.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (1988). Optional. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Optional.html