diff --git a/lib/classes/formatting.php b/lib/classes/formatting.php
index dbdfea0ed5e..4576b80fc84 100644
--- a/lib/classes/formatting.php
+++ b/lib/classes/formatting.php
@@ -44,17 +44,20 @@ class formatting {
      * need filter processing e.g. activity titles, post subjects,
      * glossary concepts.
      *
-     * @staticvar bool $strcache
      * @param null|string $string The string to be filtered. Should be plain text, expect
      * possibly for multilang tags.
      * @param boolean $striplinks To strip any link in the result text.
-     * @param array $options options array
+     * @param null|context $context The context used for formatting
+     * @param bool $filter Whether to apply filters
+     * @param bool $escape Whether to escape ampersands
      * @return string
      */
     public function format_string(
         ?string $string,
         bool $striplinks = true,
-        array $options = [],
+        ?context $context = null,
+        bool $filter = true,
+        bool $escape = true,
     ): string {
         global $PAGE;
 
@@ -72,37 +75,26 @@ class formatting {
             $this->formatstringcache = [];
         }
 
-        // Detach object, we can not modify it.
-        $options = (array)$options;
-
-        if (empty($options['context'])) {
+        if ($context === null) {
             // Fallback to $PAGE->context this may be problematic in CLI and other non-standard pages :-(.
             // In future we may want to add debugging here.
-            $options['context'] = $PAGE->context;
-        } else if (is_numeric($options['context'])) {
-            $options['context'] = context::instance_by_id($options['context']);
-        }
-        if (!isset($options['filter'])) {
-            $options['filter'] = true;
-        }
-
-        $options['escape'] = !isset($options['escape']) || $options['escape'];
-
-        if (!$options['context']) {
-            // We did not find any context? weird.
-            throw new \coding_exception(
-                'Unable to identify context for format_string()',
-            );
+            $context = $PAGE->context;
+            if (!$context) {
+                // We did not find any context? weird.
+                throw new \coding_exception(
+                    'Unable to identify context for format_string()',
+                );
+            }
         }
 
         // Calculate md5.
         $cachekeys = [
             $string,
             $striplinks,
-            $options['context']->id,
-            $options['escape'],
+            $context->id,
+            $escape,
             current_language(),
-            $options['filter'],
+            $filter,
         ];
         $md5 = md5(implode('<+>', $cachekeys));
 
@@ -113,17 +105,19 @@ class formatting {
 
         // First replace all ampersands not followed by html entity code
         // Regular expression moved to its own method for easier unit testing.
-        $string = $options['escape'] ? replace_ampersands_not_followed_by_entity($string) : $string;
+        if ($escape) {
+            $string = replace_ampersands_not_followed_by_entity($string);
+        }
 
-        if (!empty($this->get_filterall()) && $options['filter']) {
+        if (!empty($this->get_filterall()) && $filter) {
             $filtermanager = \filter_manager::instance();
-            $filtermanager->setup_page_for_filters($PAGE, $options['context']); // Setup global stuff filters may have.
-            $string = $filtermanager->filter_string($string, $options['context']);
+            $filtermanager->setup_page_for_filters($PAGE, $context); // Setup global stuff filters may have.
+            $string = $filtermanager->filter_string($string, $context);
         }
 
         // If the site requires it, strip ALL tags from this string.
         if (!empty($this->get_striptags())) {
-            if ($options['escape']) {
+            if ($escape) {
                 $string = str_replace(['<', '>'], ['&lt;', '&gt;'], strip_tags($string));
             } else {
                 $string = strip_tags($string);
@@ -143,41 +137,40 @@ class formatting {
         return $string;
     }
 
-
     /**
      * Given text in a variety of format codings, this function returns the text as safe HTML.
      *
      * This function should mainly be used for long strings like posts,
      * answers, glossary items etc. For short strings {@link format_string()}.
      *
-     * <pre>
-     * Options:
-     *      trusted     :   If true the string won't be cleaned. Default false required noclean=true.
-     *      noclean     :   If true the string won't be cleaned, unless $CFG->forceclean is set.
-     *                      Default false required trusted=true.
-     *      nocache     :   If true the strign will not be cached and will be formatted every call. Default false.
-     *      filter      :   If true the string will be run through applicable filters as well. Default true.
-     *      para        :   If true then the returned string will be wrapped in div tags. Default true.
-     *      newlines    :   If true then lines newline breaks will be converted to HTML newline breaks. Default true.
-     *      context     :   The context that will be used for filtering.
-     *      overflowdiv :   If set to true the formatted text will be encased in a div
-     *                      with the class no-overflow before being returned. Default false.
-     *      allowid     :   If true then id attributes will not be removed, even when
-     *                      using htmlpurifier. Default false.
-     *      blanktarget :   If true all <a> tags will have target="_blank" added unless target is explicitly specified.
-     * </pre>
-     *
-     * @staticvar array $croncache
      * @param null|string $text The text to be formatted. This is raw text originally from user input.
      * @param string $format Identifier of the text format to be used
-     *            [FORMAT_MOODLE, FORMAT_HTML, FORMAT_PLAIN, FORMAT_MARKDOWN]
-     * @param array $options text formatting options
+     *              [FORMAT_MOODLE, FORMAT_HTML, FORMAT_PLAIN, FORMAT_MARKDOWN]
+     * @param null|context $context The context used for filtering
+     * @param bool $trusted If true the string won't be cleaned.
+     *              Note: FORMAT_MARKDOWN does not support trusted text.
+     * @param null|bool $clean If true the string will be cleaned.
+     *              Note: This parameter is overridden if the text is trusted
+     * @param bool $filter If true the string will be run through applicable filters as well.
+     * @param bool $para If true then the returned string will be wrapped in div tags.
+     * @param bool $newlines If true then lines newline breaks will be converted to HTML newline breaks.
+     * @param bool $overflowdiv If set to true the formatted text will be encased in a div
+     * @param bool $blanktarget If true all <a> tags will have target="_blank" added unless target is explicitly specified.
+     * @param bool $allowid If true then id attributes will not be removed, even when using htmlpurifier.
      * @return string
      */
     public function format_text(
         ?string $text,
         string $format = FORMAT_MOODLE,
-        array $options = [],
+        ?context $context = null,
+        bool $trusted = false,
+        ?bool $clean = null,
+        bool $filter = true,
+        bool $para = true,
+        bool $newlines = true,
+        bool $overflowdiv = false,
+        bool $blanktarget = false,
+        bool $allowid = false,
     ): string {
         global $CFG, $PAGE;
 
@@ -186,64 +179,29 @@ class formatting {
             return '';
         }
 
-        // Detach object, we can not modify it.
-        $options = (array) $options;
-
-        if (!isset($options['trusted'])) {
-            $options['trusted'] = false;
-        }
         if ($format == FORMAT_MARKDOWN) {
             // Markdown format cannot be trusted in trusttext areas,
             // because we do not know how to sanitise it before editing.
-            $options['trusted'] = false;
+            $trusted = false;
         }
-        if (!isset($options['noclean'])) {
-            if ($options['trusted'] && trusttext_active()) {
-                // No cleaning if text trusted and noclean not specified.
-                $options['noclean'] = true;
+        if ($clean === null) {
+            if ($trusted && trusttext_active()) {
+                // No cleaning if text trusted and clean not specified.
+                $clean = false;
             } else {
-                $options['noclean'] = false;
+                $clean = true;
             }
         }
         if (!empty($this->get_forceclean())) {
             // Whatever the caller claims, the admin wants all content cleaned anyway.
-            $options['noclean'] = false;
+            $clean = true;
         }
-        if (!isset($options['nocache'])) {
-            $options['nocache'] = false;
-        }
-        if (!isset($options['filter'])) {
-            $options['filter'] = true;
-        }
-        if (!isset($options['para'])) {
-            $options['para'] = true;
-        }
-        if (!isset($options['newlines'])) {
-            $options['newlines'] = true;
-        }
-        if (!isset($options['overflowdiv'])) {
-            $options['overflowdiv'] = false;
-        }
-        $options['blanktarget'] = !empty($options['blanktarget']);
 
         // Calculate best context.
         if (!$this->should_filter_string()) {
             // Do not filter anything during installation or before upgrade completes.
             $context = null;
-        } else if (isset($options['context'])) {
-            // First by explicit passed context option.
-            if ($options['context'] instanceof context) {
-                $context = $options['context'];
-            } else if (is_numeric($options['context'])) {
-                $context = context::instance_by_id($options['context']);
-            } else {
-                debugging(
-                    'Unknown context passed to format_text(). Content will not be filtered.',
-                    DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
-                );
-                $context = null;
-            }
-        } else {
+        } else if ($context === null) {
             // Fallback to $PAGE->context this may be problematic in CLI and other non-standard pages.
             // In future we may want to add debugging here.
             $context = $PAGE->context;
@@ -251,16 +209,15 @@ class formatting {
 
         if (!$context) {
             // Either install/upgrade or something has gone really wrong because context does not exist (yet?).
-            $options['nocache'] = true;
-            $options['filter']  = false;
+            $filter = false;
         }
 
-        if ($options['filter']) {
+        if ($filter) {
             $filtermanager = \filter_manager::instance();
             $filtermanager->setup_page_for_filters($PAGE, $context); // Setup global stuff filters may have.
             $filteroptions = [
                 'originalformat' => $format,
-                'noclean' => $options['noclean'],
+                'noclean' => !$clean,
             ];
         } else {
             $filtermanager = new \null_filter_manager();
@@ -274,8 +231,10 @@ class formatting {
                 // Text is already in HTML format, so just continue to the next filtering stage.
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'pre_clean';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
-                if (!$options['noclean']) {
-                    $text = clean_text($text, FORMAT_HTML, $options);
+                if ($clean) {
+                    $text = clean_text($text, FORMAT_HTML, [
+                        'allowid' => $allowid,
+                    ]);
                 }
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'post_clean';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
@@ -294,8 +253,10 @@ class formatting {
                 $text = markdown_to_html($text);
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'pre_clean';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
-                if (!$options['noclean']) {
-                    $text = clean_text($text, FORMAT_HTML, $options);
+                if ($clean) {
+                    $text = clean_text($text, FORMAT_HTML, [
+                        'allowid' => $allowid,
+                    ]);
                 }
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'post_clean';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
@@ -304,11 +265,13 @@ class formatting {
             case FORMAT_MOODLE:
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'pre_format';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
-                $text = text_to_html($text, null, $options['para'], $options['newlines']);
+                $text = text_to_html($text, null, $para, $newlines);
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'pre_clean';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
-                if (!$options['noclean']) {
-                    $text = clean_text($text, FORMAT_HTML, $options);
+                if ($clean) {
+                    $text = clean_text($text, FORMAT_HTML, [
+                        'allowid' => $allowid,
+                    ]);
                 }
                 $filteroptions['stage'] = 'post_clean';
                 $text = $filtermanager->filter_text($text, $context, $filteroptions);
@@ -317,7 +280,7 @@ class formatting {
                 throw new \coding_exception("Unkown format passed to format_text: {$format}");
         }
 
-        if ($options['filter']) {
+        if ($filter) {
             // At this point there should not be any draftfile links any more,
             // this happens when developers forget to post process the text.
             // The only potential problem is that somebody might try to format
@@ -334,11 +297,11 @@ class formatting {
             }
         }
 
-        if (!empty($options['overflowdiv'])) {
+        if (!empty($overflowdiv)) {
             $text = \html_writer::tag('div', $text, ['class' => 'no-overflow']);
         }
 
-        if ($options['blanktarget']) {
+        if ($blanktarget) {
             $domdoc = new \DOMDocument();
             libxml_use_internal_errors(true);
             $domdoc->loadHTML('<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>' . $text);
diff --git a/lib/editor/atto/plugins/equation/lib.php b/lib/editor/atto/plugins/equation/lib.php
index c3f0a7d0edf..8dcb1859eae 100644
--- a/lib/editor/atto/plugins/equation/lib.php
+++ b/lib/editor/atto/plugins/equation/lib.php
@@ -55,13 +55,16 @@ function atto_equation_params_for_js($elementid, $options, $fpoptions) {
 
     // Format a string with the active filter set.
     // If it is modified - we assume that some sort of text filter is working in this context.
-    $result = format_text($texexample, true, $options);
+    $formatoptions = [
+        'context' => $options['context'],
+        'noclean' => $options['noclean'] ?? false,
+        'trusted' => $options['trusted'] ?? false,
+    ];
+
+    $result = format_text($texexample, true, $formatoptions);
 
     $texfilteractive = ($texexample !== $result);
     $context = $options['context'];
-    if (!$context) {
-        $context = context_system::instance();
-    }
 
     // Tex example librarys.
     $library = array(
diff --git a/lib/tests/formatting_test.php b/lib/tests/formatting_test.php
index 128990a2c1b..7e971d105ed 100644
--- a/lib/tests/formatting_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/formatting_test.php
@@ -75,13 +75,12 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
      */
     public function test_format_string_values(
         string $expected,
-        mixed $input,
-        array $options = [],
+        array $params,
     ): void {
         $formatting = new formatting();
         $this->assertSame(
             $expected,
-            $formatting->format_string($input, ...$options),
+            $formatting->format_string(...$params),
         );
     }
 
@@ -93,24 +92,65 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
     public static function format_string_provider(): array {
         return [
             // Ampersands.
-            ["&amp; &amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp; &amp;&amp;", "& &&&&& &&"],
-            ["ANother &amp; &amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp; Category", "ANother & &&&&& Category"],
-            ["ANother &amp; &amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp; Category", "ANother & &&&&& Category", [true]],
-            ["Nick's Test Site &amp; Other things", "Nick's Test Site & Other things", [true]],
-            ["& < > \" '", "& < > \" '", [true, ['escape' => false]]],
+            [
+                'expected' => "&amp; &amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp; &amp;&amp;",
+                'params' => ["& &&&&& &&"],
+            ],
+            [
+                'expected' => "ANother &amp; &amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp; Category",
+                'params' => ["ANother & &&&&& Category"],
+            ],
+            [
+                'expected' => "ANother &amp; &amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp; Category",
+                'params' => [
+                    'string' => "ANother & &&&&& Category",
+                    'striplinks' => true,
+                ],
+            ],
+            [
+                'expected' => "Nick's Test Site &amp; Other things",
+                'params' => [
+                    'string' => "Nick's Test Site & Other things",
+                    'striplinks' => true,
+                ],
+            ],
+            [
+                'expected' => "& < > \" '",
+                'params' => [
+                    'string' => "& < > \" '",
+                    'striplinks' => true,
+                    'escape' => false,
+                ],
+            ],
 
             // String entities.
-            ["&quot;", "&quot;"],
+            [
+                'expected' => "&quot;",
+                'params' => ["&quot;"],
+            ],
 
             // Digital entities.
-            ["&11234;", "&11234;"],
+            [
+                'expected' => "&11234;",
+                'params' => ["&11234;"],
+            ],
 
             // Unicode entities.
-            ["&#4475;", "&#4475;"],
+            [
+                'expected' => "&#4475;",
+                'params' => ["&#4475;"],
+            ],
 
             // Nulls.
-            ['', null],
-            ['', null, [true, ['escape' => false]]],
+            ['', [null]],
+            [
+                'expected' => '',
+                'params' => [
+                    'string' => null,
+                    'striplinks' => true,
+                    'escape' => false,
+                ],
+            ],
         ];
     }
 
@@ -130,9 +170,9 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $rawstring = '<span lang="en" class="multilang">English</span><span lang="ca" class="multilang">Catalan</span>';
         $expectednofilter = strip_tags($rawstring);
         $expectedfilter = 'English';
-        $striplinks = true;
         $context = \core\context\course::instance($course->id);
         $options = [
+            'striplinks' => true,
             'context' => $context,
             'escape' => true,
             'filter' => false,
@@ -144,7 +184,7 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
 
         // Format the string without filters. It should just strip the
         // links.
-        $nofilterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, $striplinks, $options);
+        $nofilterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, ...$options);
         $this->assertEquals($expectednofilter, $nofilterresult);
 
         // Add the multilang filter. Make sure it's enabled globally.
@@ -153,23 +193,23 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         filter_set_local_state('multilang', $context->id, TEXTFILTER_ON);
 
         // Even after setting the filters, no filters are applied yet.
-        $nofilterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, $striplinks, $options);
+        $nofilterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring,...$options);
         $this->assertEquals($expectednofilter, $nofilterresult);
 
         // Apply the filter as an option.
         $options['filter'] = true;
-        $filterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, $striplinks, $options);
+        $filterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring,  ...$options);
         $this->assertMatchesRegularExpression("/$expectedfilter/", $filterresult);
 
         // Apply it as a formatting setting.
         unset($options['filter']);
         $formatting->set_filterall(true);
-        $filterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, $striplinks, $options);
+        $filterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring,  ...$options);
         $this->assertMatchesRegularExpression("/$expectedfilter/", $filterresult);
 
         // Unset it and we do not filter.
         $formatting->set_filterall(false);
-        $nofilterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, $striplinks, $options);
+        $nofilterresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring,  ...$options);
         $this->assertEquals($expectednofilter, $nofilterresult);
 
         // Set it again.
@@ -179,7 +219,7 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         // Confirm that we get back the cached string. The result should be
         // the same as the filtered text above even though we've disabled the
         // multilang filter in between.
-        $cachedresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, $striplinks, $options);
+        $cachedresult = $formatting->format_string($rawstring, ...$options);
         $this->assertMatchesRegularExpression("/$expectedfilter/", $cachedresult);
     }
 
@@ -205,7 +245,7 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $formatter = new formatting();
         $this->assertEquals(
             $expected,
-            $formatter->format_text($input, $format, $options),
+            $formatter->format_text($input, $format, ...$options),
         );
     }
 
@@ -333,14 +373,14 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
                 1,
                 $text,
                 FORMAT_MARKDOWN,
-                ['trusted' => true, 'noclean' => true],
+                ['trusted' => true, 'clean' => false],
             ],
             [
                 "<p>lala <object>xx</object></p>\n",
                 1,
                 $text,
                 FORMAT_MARKDOWN,
-                ['trusted' => false, 'noclean' => true],
+                ['trusted' => false, 'clean' => false],
             ],
         ];
     }
@@ -364,7 +404,11 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         filter_set_global_state('emoticon', TEXTFILTER_ON);
         $this->assertEquals(
             '<p>:-)</p>',
-            $formatter->format_text('<p>:-)</p>', FORMAT_HTML, ['filter' => false])
+            $formatter->format_text(
+                '<p>:-)</p>',
+                FORMAT_HTML,
+                filter: false,
+            )
         );
     }
 
@@ -387,7 +431,11 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         filter_set_global_state('emoticon', TEXTFILTER_ON);
         $this->assertEquals(
             ':-)',
-            $formatter->format_text(':-)', FORMAT_PLAIN, ['filter' => false])
+            $formatter->format_text(
+                ':-)',
+                FORMAT_PLAIN,
+                filter: false,
+            )
         );
     }
 
@@ -411,7 +459,7 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         filter_set_global_state('emoticon', TEXTFILTER_ON);
         $this->assertEquals(
             "<p><em>:-)</em></p>\n",
-            $formatter->format_text('*:-)*', FORMAT_MARKDOWN, ['filter' => false])
+            $formatter->format_text('*:-)*', FORMAT_MARKDOWN, filter: false)
         );
     }
 
@@ -435,7 +483,7 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         filter_set_global_state('emoticon', TEXTFILTER_ON);
         $this->assertEquals(
             '<div class="text_to_html"><p>:-)</p></div>',
-            $formatter->format_text('<p>:-)</p>', FORMAT_MOODLE, ['filter' => false])
+            $formatter->format_text('<p>:-)</p>', FORMAT_MOODLE, filter: false)
         );
     }
 
@@ -460,23 +508,16 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
 
         $this->assertSame(
             '<p>Read <a class="autolink" title="Test 1" href="' . $pageurl . '">Test 1</a>.</p>',
-            $formatter->format_text('<p>Read Test 1.</p>', FORMAT_HTML, ['context' => $context]),
+            $formatter->format_text('<p>Read Test 1.</p>', FORMAT_HTML, context: $context),
         );
 
         $this->assertSame(
             '<p>Read <a class="autolink" title="Test 1" href="' . $pageurl . '">Test 1</a>.</p>',
-            $formatter->format_text('<p>Read Test 1.</p>', FORMAT_HTML, ['context' => $context, 'noclean' => true]),
-        );
-
-        $this->assertSame(
-            '<p>Read Test 1.</p>',
             $formatter->format_text(
-                '<p><nolink>Read Test 1.</nolink></p>',
+                '<p>Read Test 1.</p>',
                 FORMAT_HTML,
-                [
-                    'context' => $context,
-                    'noclean' => false,
-                ],
+                context: $context,
+                clean: false,
             ),
         );
 
@@ -485,16 +526,28 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
             $formatter->format_text(
                 '<p><nolink>Read Test 1.</nolink></p>',
                 FORMAT_HTML,
-                [
-                    'context' => $context,
-                    'noclean' => true,
-                ],
+                context: $context,
+                clean: true,
+            ),
+        );
+
+        $this->assertSame(
+            '<p>Read Test 1.</p>',
+            $formatter->format_text(
+                '<p><nolink>Read Test 1.</nolink></p>',
+                FORMAT_HTML,
+                context: $context,
+                clean: false,
             ),
         );
 
         $this->assertSame(
             '<p><span class="nolink">Read Test 1.</span></p>',
-            $formatter->format_text('<p><span class="nolink">Read Test 1.</span></p>', FORMAT_HTML, ['context' => $context]),
+            $formatter->format_text(
+                '<p><span class="nolink">Read Test 1.</span></p>',
+                FORMAT_HTML,
+                context: $context,
+            ),
         );
     }
 
@@ -503,7 +556,11 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
 
         $this->assertEquals(
             '<div class="no-overflow"><p>Hello world</p></div>',
-            $formatter->format_text('<p>Hello world</p>', FORMAT_HTML, ['overflowdiv' => true]),
+            $formatter->format_text(
+                '<p>Hello world</p>',
+                FORMAT_HTML,
+                overflowdiv: true,
+            ),
         );
     }
 
@@ -516,7 +573,13 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
      */
     public function test_format_text_blanktarget($link, $expected): void {
         $formatter = new formatting();
-        $actual = $formatter->format_text($link, FORMAT_MOODLE, ['blanktarget' => true, 'filter' => false, 'noclean' => true]);
+        $actual = $formatter->format_text(
+            $link,
+            FORMAT_MOODLE,
+            blanktarget: true,
+            filter: false,
+            clean: false,
+        );
         $this->assertEquals($expected, $actual);
     }
 
@@ -588,19 +651,19 @@ class formatting_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $formatter = new formatting();
 
         $formatter->set_forceclean(false);
-        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, ['filter' => false, 'noclean' => false]);
+        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, filter: false, clean: true);
         $this->assertEquals($cleaned, $actual);
 
         $formatter->set_forceclean(true);
-        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, ['filter' => false, 'noclean' => false]);
+        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, filter: false, clean: true);
         $this->assertEquals($cleaned, $actual);
 
         $formatter->set_forceclean(false);
-        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, ['filter' => false, 'noclean' => true]);
+        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, filter: false, clean: false);
         $this->assertEquals($nocleaned, $actual);
 
         $formatter->set_forceclean(true);
-        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, ['filter' => false, 'noclean' => true]);
+        $actual = $formatter->format_text($input, FORMAT_HTML, filter: false, clean: false);
         $this->assertEquals($cleaned, $actual);
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/weblib.php b/lib/weblib.php
index 24376e98e9e..1da3952c547 100644
--- a/lib/weblib.php
+++ b/lib/weblib.php
@@ -1252,7 +1252,6 @@ function format_text_menu() {
  *      blanktarget :   If true all <a> tags will have target="_blank" added unless target is explicitly specified.
  * </pre>
  *
- * @staticvar array $croncache
  * @param string $text The text to be formatted. This is raw text originally from user input.
  * @param int $format Identifier of the text format to be used
  *            [FORMAT_MOODLE, FORMAT_HTML, FORMAT_PLAIN, FORMAT_MARKDOWN]
@@ -1281,46 +1280,81 @@ function format_text($text, $format = FORMAT_MOODLE, $options = null, $courseidd
                 ' Please pass an array with a context key instead.',
             DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
         );
-        $options = ['context' => $options];
+        $params['context'] = $options;
+        $options = [];
     }
 
     if ($options) {
         $options = (array) $options;
     }
 
-    if ($options instanceof \core\context) {
-        // A common mistake has been to call this function with a context object.
-        // This has never been expected, nor supported.
-        debugging(
-            'The options argument should not be a context object directly. ' .
-                ' Please pass an array with a context key instead.',
-            DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
-        );
-        $options = ['context' => $options];
-    }
-
     if (empty($CFG->version) || $CFG->version < 2013051400 || during_initial_install()) {
         // Do not filter anything during installation or before upgrade completes.
+        $params['context'] = null;
     } else if ($options && isset($options['context'])) { // First by explicit passed context option.
-        // Do not do anything.
+        if (is_numeric($options['context'])) {
+            // A contextid was passed.
+            $params['context'] = \core\context::instance_by_id($options['context']);
+        } else if ($options['context'] instanceof \core\context) {
+            $params['context'] = $options['context'];
+        } else {
+            debugging(
+                'Unknown context passed to format_text(). Content will not be filtered.',
+                DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
+            );
+        }
+
+        // Unset the context from $options to prevent it overriding the configured value.
+        unset($options['context']);
     } else if ($courseiddonotuse) {
         // Legacy courseid.
-        if (!$options) {
-            $options = [];
-        }
-        $options['context'] = \core\context\course::instance($courseiddonotuse);
+        $params['context'] = \core\context\course::instance($courseiddonotuse);
         debugging(
             "Passing a courseid to format_text() is deprecated, please pass a context instead.",
             DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
         );
     }
 
-    $params = [
-        'text' => $text,
-    ];
+    $params['text'] =  $text;
 
     if ($options) {
-        $params['options'] = $options;
+        $validoptions = [
+            'text',
+            'format',
+            'context',
+            'trusted',
+            'clean',
+            'filter',
+            'para',
+            'newlines',
+            'overflowdiv',
+            'blanktarget',
+            'allowid',
+            'noclean',
+            'nocache',
+            'smiley',
+        ];
+
+        $invalidoptions = array_diff(array_keys($options), $validoptions);
+        if ($invalidoptions) {
+            debugging(sprintf(
+                'The following options are not valid: %s',
+                implode(', ', $invalidoptions),
+            ), DEBUG_DEVELOPER);
+            foreach ($invalidoptions as $option) {
+                unset($options[$option]);
+            }
+        }
+
+        foreach ($options as $option => $value) {
+            $params[$option] = $value;
+        }
+
+        // The noclean option has been renamed to clean.
+        if (array_key_exists('noclean', $params)) {
+            $params['clean'] = !$params['noclean'];
+            unset($params['noclean']);
+        }
     }
 
     if ($format !== null) {
@@ -1402,23 +1436,70 @@ function format_string($string, $striplinks = true, $options = null) {
                 ' Please pass an array with a context key instead.',
             DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
         );
-        $options = ['context' => $options];
-    // phpcs:ignore Generic.CodeAnalysis.EmptyStatement.DetectedIf
-    } else if ($options === null || is_numeric($options) || is_array($options) || is_a($options, \stdClass::class)) {
-        // Do nothing. These are accepted options.
-        // Pass to the new method.
-    } else {
+        $params['context'] = $options;
+        $options = [];
+    } else if (is_numeric($options)) {
+        // Legacy courseid usage.
+        $params['context'] = \core\context\course::instance($options);
+        $options = [];
+    } else if (is_array($options) || is_a($options, \stdClass::class)) {
+        $options = (array) $options;
+        if (isset($options['context'])) {
+            if (is_numeric($options['context'])) {
+                // A contextid was passed usage.
+                $params['context'] = \core\context::instance_by_id($options['context']);
+            } else if ($options['context'] instanceof \core\context) {
+                $params['context'] = $options['context'];
+            } else {
+                debugging(
+                    'An invalid value for context was provided.',
+                    DEBUG_DEVELOPER,
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    } else if ($options !== null) {
         // Something else was passed, so we'll just use an empty array.
-        // Attempt to cast to array since we always used to, but throw in some debugging.
         debugging(sprintf(
             'The options argument should be an Array, or stdclass. %s passed.',
             gettype($options),
         ), DEBUG_DEVELOPER);
-        $options = (array) $options;
+
+        // Attempt to cast to array since we always used to, but throw in some debugging.
+        $options = array_filter(
+            (array) $options,
+            fn ($key) => !is_numeric($key),
+            ARRAY_FILTER_USE_KEY,
+        );
     }
 
-    if ($options !== null) {
-        $params['options'] = $options;
+    if (isset($options['filter'])) {
+        $params['filter'] = (bool) $options['filter'];
+    } else {
+        $params['filter'] = true;
+    }
+
+    if (isset($options['escape'])) {
+        $params['escape'] = (bool) $options['escape'];
+    } else {
+        $params['escape'] = true;
+    }
+
+    $validoptions = [
+        'string',
+        'striplinks',
+        'context',
+        'filter',
+        'escape',
+    ];
+
+    if ($options) {
+        $invalidoptions = array_diff(array_keys($options), $validoptions);
+        if ($invalidoptions) {
+            debugging(sprintf(
+                'The following options are not valid: %s',
+                implode(', ', $invalidoptions),
+            ), DEBUG_DEVELOPER);
+        }
     }
 
     return \core\di::get(\core\formatting::class)->format_string(
diff --git a/mod/lesson/locallib.php b/mod/lesson/locallib.php
index 967d726d89e..672cefe0dcd 100644
--- a/mod/lesson/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/lesson/locallib.php
@@ -4272,12 +4272,16 @@ abstract class lesson_page extends lesson_base {
                 } else if (!$result->isessayquestion) {
                     $class .= ' incorrect'; // CSS over-ride this if they exist (!important).
                 }
-                $options = new stdClass;
-                $options->noclean = true;
-                $options->para = true;
-                $options->overflowdiv = true;
-                $options->context = $context;
-                $options->attemptid = isset($attempt) ? $attempt->id : null;
+
+                $options = [
+                    'noclean' =>  true,
+                    'para' =>  true,
+                    'overflowdiv' =>  true,
+                    'context' =>  $context,
+                ];
+                $answeroptions = (object) array_merge($options, [
+                    'attemptid' => $attempt->id ?? null,
+                ]);
 
                 $result->feedback .= $OUTPUT->box(format_text($this->get_contents(), $this->properties->contentsformat, $options),
                         'generalbox boxaligncenter py-3');
@@ -4294,7 +4298,7 @@ abstract class lesson_page extends lesson_base {
 
                     foreach ($studentanswerresponse as $answer => $response) {
                         // Add a table row containing the answer.
-                        $studentanswer = $this->format_answer($answer, $context, $result->studentanswerformat, $options);
+                        $studentanswer = $this->format_answer($answer, $context, $result->studentanswerformat, $answeroptions);
                         $table->data[] = array($studentanswer);
                         // If the response exists, add a table row containing the response. If not, add en empty row.
                         if (!empty(trim($response))) {
@@ -4309,7 +4313,7 @@ abstract class lesson_page extends lesson_base {
                     }
                 } else {
                     // Add a table row containing the answer.
-                    $studentanswer = $this->format_answer($result->studentanswer, $context, $result->studentanswerformat, $options);
+                    $studentanswer = $this->format_answer($result->studentanswer, $context, $result->studentanswerformat, $answeroptions);
                     $table->data[] = array($studentanswer);
                     // If the response exists, add a table row containing the response. If not, add en empty row.
                     if (!empty(trim($result->response))) {
@@ -4339,7 +4343,6 @@ abstract class lesson_page extends lesson_base {
      * @return string Returns formatted string
      */
     public function format_answer($answer, $context, $answerformat, $options = []) {
-
         if (is_object($options)) {
             $options = (array) $options;
         }
@@ -4352,6 +4355,9 @@ abstract class lesson_page extends lesson_base {
             $options['para'] = true;
         }
 
+        // The attemptid is used by some plugins but is not a valid argument to format_text.
+        unset($options['attemptid']);
+
         return format_text($answer, $answerformat, $options);
     }