Pro:
- Easier to discover (at least in my experience), esp. if you already know that
dot refers to a multiplication dot, then I'd expect to find the multiplication cross under the according name.
- Nicely parallels the naming between cross and dot product.
times could mean any kind of multiplication symbol; cross is more descriptive (esp. considering differing conventions, like in Germany, where the typical "times" symbol is almost always a dot).
Con:
- Precedent of HTML using
×, LaTeX using \times, and codepoints like U+2297 CIRCLED TIMES in Unicode.
- Might be assumed to refer to
crossmark or similar.
- Obviously quite breaking.
Concerning the last point, an alternative could be to support both names, similar to infinity and oo coexisting. I'm unaware if this proposal has been discussed and/or declined in the past.
Pro:
dotrefers to a multiplication dot, then I'd expect to find the multiplication cross under the according name.timescould mean any kind of multiplication symbol;crossis more descriptive (esp. considering differing conventions, like in Germany, where the typical "times" symbol is almost always a dot).Con:
×, LaTeX using\times, and codepoints likeU+2297 CIRCLED TIMESin Unicode.crossmarkor similar.Concerning the last point, an alternative could be to support both names, similar to
infinityandoocoexisting. I'm unaware if this proposal has been discussed and/or declined in the past.