diff --git a/pygmt/clib/session.py b/pygmt/clib/session.py
index 1a77659ac75..dcab42d43b7 100644
--- a/pygmt/clib/session.py
+++ b/pygmt/clib/session.py
@@ -1621,15 +1621,12 @@ def virtualfile_from_grid(self, grid):
         with self.open_virtualfile(*args) as vfile:
             yield vfile
 
-    def virtualfile_in(  # noqa: PLR0912
+    def virtualfile_in(
         self,
         check_kind=None,
         data=None,
-        x=None,
-        y=None,
-        z=None,
-        extra_arrays=None,
-        required_z=False,
+        vectors=None,
+        names="xy",
         required_data=True,
     ):
         """
@@ -1648,13 +1645,12 @@ def virtualfile_in(  # noqa: PLR0912
             Any raster or vector data format. This could be a file name or
             path, a raster grid, a vector matrix/arrays, or other supported
             data input.
-        x/y/z : 1-D arrays or None
-            x, y, and z columns as numpy arrays.
-        extra_arrays : list of 1-D arrays
-            Optional. A list of numpy arrays in addition to x, y, and z.
-            All of these arrays must be of the same size as the x/y/z arrays.
-        required_z : bool
-            State whether the 'z' column is required.
+        vectors : list of 1-D arrays or None
+            A list of 1-D arrays. Each array will be a column in the table.
+            All of these arrays must be of the same size.
+        names : str or list of str
+            A list of names for each of the columns. Must be of the same size
+            as the number of vectors. Default is ``"xy"``.
         required_data : bool
             Set to True when 'data' is required, or False when dealing with
             optional virtual files. [Default is True].
@@ -1688,10 +1684,8 @@ def virtualfile_in(  # noqa: PLR0912
         kind = data_kind(data, required=required_data)
         _validate_data_input(
             data=data,
-            x=x,
-            y=y,
-            z=z,
-            required_z=required_z,
+            vectors=vectors,
+            names=names,
             required_data=required_data,
             kind=kind,
         )
@@ -1734,11 +1728,7 @@ def virtualfile_in(  # noqa: PLR0912
                 warnings.warn(message=msg, category=RuntimeWarning, stacklevel=2)
             _data = (data,) if not isinstance(data, pathlib.PurePath) else (str(data),)
         elif kind == "vectors":
-            _data = [np.atleast_1d(x), np.atleast_1d(y)]
-            if z is not None:
-                _data.append(np.atleast_1d(z))
-            if extra_arrays:
-                _data.extend(extra_arrays)
+            _data = [np.atleast_1d(v) for v in vectors]
         elif kind == "matrix":  # turn 2-D arrays into list of vectors
             if hasattr(data, "items") and not hasattr(data, "to_frame"):
                 # pandas.DataFrame or xarray.Dataset types.
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
index cd54d6fc18e..b119ff946fb 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
@@ -20,99 +20,126 @@
 
 
 def _validate_data_input(
-    data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, required_z=False, required_data=True, kind=None
+    data=None, vectors=None, names="xy", required_data=True, kind=None
 ):
     """
-    Check if the combination of data/x/y/z is valid.
+    Check if the data input is valid.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    data : str, pathlib.PurePath, None, bool, xarray.DataArray or {table-like}
+        Pass in either a file name or :class:`pathlib.Path` to an ASCII data
+        table, an :class:`xarray.DataArray`, a 1-D/2-D
+        {table-classes} or an option argument.
+    vectors : list of 1-D arrays
+        A list of 1-D arrays with the data columns.
+    names : list of str
+        List of column names.
+    required_data : bool
+        Set to True when 'data' is required, or False when dealing with
+        optional virtual files [Default is True].
+    kind : str or None
+        The kind of data that will be passed to a module. If not given, it
+        will be determined by calling :func:`data_kind`.
 
     Examples
     --------
     >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile")
-    >>> _validate_data_input(x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6])
-    >>> _validate_data_input(x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6], z=[7, 8, 9])
+    >>> _validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]], names="xy")
+    >>> _validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]], names="xyz")
     >>> _validate_data_input(data=None, required_data=False)
     >>> _validate_data_input()
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: No input data provided.
-    >>> _validate_data_input(x=[1, 2, 3])
+    >>> _validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], None], names="xy")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Must provide both x and y.
-    >>> _validate_data_input(y=[4, 5, 6])
+    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Column 1 ('y') can't be None.
+    >>> _validate_data_input(vectors=[None, [4, 5, 6]], names="xy")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Must provide both x and y.
-    >>> _validate_data_input(x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6], required_z=True)
+    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Column 0 ('x') can't be None.
+    >>> _validate_data_input(vectors=[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], None], names="xyz")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Must provide x, y, and z.
+    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Column 2 ('z') can't be None.
     >>> import numpy as np
     >>> import pandas as pd
     >>> import xarray as xr
     >>> data = np.arange(8).reshape((4, 2))
-    >>> _validate_data_input(data=data, required_z=True, kind="matrix")
+    >>> _validate_data_input(data=data, names="xyz", kind="matrix")
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must provide x, y, and z columns.
+    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must have at least 3 columns.
+    x y z
     >>> _validate_data_input(
     ...     data=pd.DataFrame(data, columns=["x", "y"]),
-    ...     required_z=True,
+    ...     names="xyz",
     ...     kind="matrix",
     ... )
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must provide x, y, and z columns.
+    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must have at least 3 columns.
+    x y z
     >>> _validate_data_input(
     ...     data=xr.Dataset(pd.DataFrame(data, columns=["x", "y"])),
-    ...     required_z=True,
+    ...     names="xyz",
     ...     kind="matrix",
     ... )
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must provide x, y, and z columns.
-    >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", x=[1, 2, 3])
+    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: data must have at least 3 columns.
+    x y z
+    >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", vectors=[[1, 2, 3], None])
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
     pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either data or x/y/z.
     >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", y=[4, 5, 6])
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either data or x/y/z.
-    >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6])
+    pygmt...GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either 'data' or 1-D arrays.
+    >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", vectors=[None, None, [7, 8, 9]])
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either data or x/y/z.
-    >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", z=[7, 8, 9])
+    pygmt...GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either 'data' or 1-D arrays.
+    >>> _validate_data_input(data="infile", x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6])
     Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
-    pygmt.exceptions.GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either data or x/y/z.
+    pygmt...GMTInvalidInput: Too much data. Use either 'data' or 1-D arrays.
 
     Raises
     ------
     GMTInvalidInput
         If the data input is not valid.
     """
-    if data is None:  # data is None
-        if x is None and y is None:  # both x and y are None
-            if required_data:  # data is not optional
-                raise GMTInvalidInput("No input data provided.")
-        elif x is None or y is None:  # either x or y is None
-            raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide both x and y.")
-        if required_z and z is None:  # both x and y are not None, now check z
-            raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide x, y, and z.")
-    else:  # data is not None
-        if x is not None or y is not None or z is not None:
-            raise GMTInvalidInput("Too much data. Use either data or x/y/z.")
-        # For 'matrix' kind, check if data has the required z column
-        if kind == "matrix" and required_z:
+    if kind is None:
+        kind = data_kind(data=data, required=required_data)
+
+    if kind == "vectors":  # From data_kind, we know that data is None
+        if vectors is None:
+            raise GMTInvalidInput("No input data provided.")
+        if len(vectors) < len(names):
+            raise GMTInvalidInput(
+                f"Requires {len(names)} 1-D arrays but got {len(vectors)}."
+            )
+        for i, v in enumerate(vectors[: len(names)]):
+            if v is None:
+                raise GMTInvalidInput(f"Column {i} ('{names[i]}') can't be None.")
+    else:
+        if vectors is not None and any(v is not None for v in vectors):
+            raise GMTInvalidInput("Too much data. Use either 'data' or 1-D arrays.")
+        if kind == "matrix":  # check number of columns for matrix-like data
+            msg = f"data must have at least {len(names)} columns.\n" + " ".join(names)
             if hasattr(data, "shape"):  # np.ndarray or pd.DataFrame
-                if len(data.shape) == 1 and data.shape[0] < 3:
-                    raise GMTInvalidInput("data must provide x, y, and z columns.")
-                if len(data.shape) > 1 and data.shape[1] < 3:
-                    raise GMTInvalidInput("data must provide x, y, and z columns.")
-            if hasattr(data, "data_vars") and len(data.data_vars) < 3:  # xr.Dataset
-                raise GMTInvalidInput("data must provide x, y, and z columns.")
+                if len(data.shape) == 1 and data.shape[0] < len(names):
+                    raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
+                if len(data.shape) > 1 and data.shape[1] < len(names):
+                    raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
+            if hasattr(data, "data_vars") and len(data.data_vars) < len(
+                names
+            ):  # xr.Dataset
+                raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
 
 
 def _check_encoding(
@@ -189,19 +216,18 @@ def _check_encoding(
 
 def data_kind(
     data: Any = None, required: bool = True
-) -> Literal["arg", "file", "geojson", "grid", "image", "matrix", "vectors"]:
+) -> Literal["arg", "file", "grid", "image", "matrix", "vectors"]:
     """
-    Check the kind of data that is provided to a module.
+    Check what kind of data is provided to a module.
 
-    The ``data`` argument can be in any type, but only following types are supported:
+    Possible types:
 
-    - a string or a :class:`pathlib.PurePath` object or a sequence of them, representing
-      a file name or a list of file names
-    - a 2-D or 3-D :class:`xarray.DataArray` object
-    - a 2-D matrix
-    - None, bool, int or float type representing an optional arguments
-    - a geo-like Python object that implements ``__geo_interface__`` (e.g.,
-      geopandas.GeoDataFrame or shapely.geometry)
+    * a file name provided as 'data'
+    * a pathlib.PurePath object provided as 'data'
+    * an xarray.DataArray object provided as 'data'
+    * a 2-D matrix provided as 'data'
+    * 1-D arrays x and y (and z, optionally)
+    * an optional argument (None, bool, int or float) provided as 'data'
 
     Parameters
     ----------
@@ -257,9 +283,9 @@ def data_kind(
         # geo-like Python object that implements ``__geo_interface__``
         # (geopandas.GeoDataFrame or shapely.geometry)
         kind = "geojson"
-    elif data is not None:
+    elif data is not None:  # anything but None is taken as a matrix
         kind = "matrix"
-    else:
+    else:  # fallback to vectors if data is None but required
         kind = "vectors"
     return kind
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/blockm.py b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
index a8b35d6c942..8bbb45f9a4e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/blockm.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def _blockm(
     with Session() as lib:
         with (
             lib.virtualfile_in(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             ) as vintbl,
             lib.virtualfile_out(kind="dataset", fname=outfile) as vouttbl,
         ):
diff --git a/pygmt/src/contour.py b/pygmt/src/contour.py
index c5aa26a3b10..5c90576a6d0 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/contour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/contour.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def contour(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
 
     with Session() as lib:
         with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
         ) as vintbl:
             lib.call_module(
                 module="contour", args=build_arg_list(kwargs, infile=vintbl)
diff --git a/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py b/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
index 7027e04a358..9e716b9831a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def nearneighbor(
     with Session() as lib:
         with (
             lib.virtualfile_in(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             ) as vintbl,
             lib.virtualfile_out(kind="grid", fname=outgrid) as voutgrd,
         ):
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot.py b/pygmt/src/plot.py
index e66f08438e5..bc25f726d56 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     kwargs_to_strings,
     use_alias,
 )
-from pygmt.src.which import which
+from pygmt.src import which
 
 
 @fmt_docstring
@@ -50,9 +50,7 @@
     w="wrap",
 )
 @kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
-def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
-    self, data=None, x=None, y=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs
-):
+def plot(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
     r"""
     Plot lines, polygons, and symbols in 2-D.
 
@@ -209,7 +207,9 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
     kind = data_kind(data)
-    extra_arrays = []
+    vectors = [x, y]
+    names = ["x", "y"]
+
     if kind == "vectors":  # Add more columns for vectors input
         # Parameters for vector styles
         if (
@@ -217,18 +217,22 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
             and kwargs["S"][0] in "vV"
             and is_nonstr_iter(direction)
         ):
-            extra_arrays.extend(direction)
+            vectors.extend(direction)
+            names.extend(["x2", "y2"])
         # Fill
         if is_nonstr_iter(kwargs.get("G")):
-            extra_arrays.append(kwargs.get("G"))
+            vectors.append(kwargs["G"])
+            names.append("fill")
             del kwargs["G"]
         # Size
         if is_nonstr_iter(size):
-            extra_arrays.append(size)
+            vectors.append(size)
+            names.append("size")
         # Intensity and transparency
         for flag in ["I", "t"]:
             if is_nonstr_iter(kwargs.get(flag)):
-                extra_arrays.append(kwargs.get(flag))
+                vectors.append(kwargs[flag])
+                names.append(plot.aliases[flag])
                 kwargs[flag] = ""
     else:
         for name, value in [
@@ -240,7 +244,6 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
         ]:
             if is_nonstr_iter(value):
                 raise GMTInvalidInput(f"'{name}' can't be 1-D array if 'data' is used.")
-
     # Set the default style if data has a geometry of Point or MultiPoint
     if kwargs.get("S") is None:
         if kind == "geojson" and data.geom_type.isin(["Point", "MultiPoint"]).all():
@@ -255,7 +258,9 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
                 pass
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, extra_arrays=extra_arrays
-        ) as vintbl:
-            lib.call_module(module="plot", args=build_arg_list(kwargs, infile=vintbl))
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
+        )
+
+        with file_context as fname:
+            lib.call_module(module="plot", args=build_arg_list(kwargs, infile=fname))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
index c86e5e259f1..d7fd54ba140 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 from pygmt.clib import Session
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTInvalidInput
 from pygmt.helpers import (
-    build_arg_list,
+    build_arg_string,
     data_kind,
     fmt_docstring,
     is_nonstr_iter,
     kwargs_to_strings,
     use_alias,
 )
-from pygmt.src.which import which
+from pygmt.src import which
 
 
 @fmt_docstring
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     w="wrap",
 )
 @kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
-def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912
+def plot3d(
     self, data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, size=None, direction=None, **kwargs
 ):
     r"""
@@ -184,7 +184,8 @@ def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
     kind = data_kind(data)
-    extra_arrays = []
+    vectors = [x, y, z]
+    names = ["x", "y", "z"]
 
     if kind == "vectors":  # Add more columns for vectors input
         # Parameters for vector styles
@@ -193,18 +194,22 @@ def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912
             and kwargs["S"][0] in "vV"
             and is_nonstr_iter(direction)
         ):
-            extra_arrays.extend(direction)
+            vectors.extend(direction)
+            names.extend(["x2", "y2", "z2"])
         # Fill
         if is_nonstr_iter(kwargs.get("G")):
-            extra_arrays.append(kwargs.get("G"))
+            vectors.append(kwargs["G"])
+            names.append("fill")
             del kwargs["G"]
         # Size
         if is_nonstr_iter(size):
-            extra_arrays.append(size)
+            vectors.append(size)
+            names.append("size")
         # Intensity and transparency
         for flag in ["I", "t"]:
             if is_nonstr_iter(kwargs.get(flag)):
-                extra_arrays.append(kwargs.get(flag))
+                vectors.append(kwargs[flag])
+                names.append(plot3d.aliases[flag])
                 kwargs[flag] = ""
     else:
         for name, value in [
@@ -231,13 +236,11 @@ def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912
                 pass
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            check_kind="vector",
-            data=data,
-            x=x,
-            y=y,
-            z=z,
-            extra_arrays=extra_arrays,
-            required_z=True,
-        ) as vintbl:
-            lib.call_module(module="plot3d", args=build_arg_list(kwargs, infile=vintbl))
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
+        )
+
+        with file_context as fname:
+            lib.call_module(
+                module="plot3d", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=fname)
+            )
diff --git a/pygmt/src/project.py b/pygmt/src/project.py
index 811a7d48158..c735ba3af78 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/project.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/project.py
@@ -232,6 +232,11 @@ def project(
             "The `convention` parameter is not allowed with `generate`."
         )
 
+    # z is optional
+    vectors, names = [x, y], "xy"
+    if z is not None:
+        vectors.append(z)
+
     output_type = validate_output_table_type(output_type, outfile=outfile)
 
     column_names = None
@@ -241,13 +246,7 @@ def project(
     with Session() as lib:
         with (
             lib.virtualfile_in(
-                check_kind="vector",
-                data=data,
-                x=x,
-                y=y,
-                z=z,
-                required_z=False,
-                required_data=False,
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
             ) as vintbl,
             lib.virtualfile_out(kind="dataset", fname=outfile) as vouttbl,
         ):
diff --git a/pygmt/src/rose.py b/pygmt/src/rose.py
index c347db0e3f3..118114884e3 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/rose.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/rose.py
@@ -196,11 +196,13 @@ def rose(self, data=None, length=None, azimuth=None, **kwargs):
     {transparency}
     {wrap}
     """
-
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
     with Session() as lib:
         with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, x=length, y=azimuth
+            check_kind="vector",
+            data=data,
+            vectors=[length, azimuth],
+            names=["length", "azimuth"],
         ) as vintbl:
             lib.call_module(module="rose", args=build_arg_list(kwargs, infile=vintbl))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py b/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
index e23f7999a8e..736243f1527 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@ def sphdistance(data=None, x=None, y=None, outgrid: str | None = None, **kwargs)
         raise GMTInvalidInput("Both 'region' and 'spacing' must be specified.")
     with Session() as lib:
         with (
-            lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y) as vintbl,
+            lib.virtualfile_in(
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y], names="xy"
+            ) as vintbl,
             lib.virtualfile_out(kind="grid", fname=outgrid) as voutgrd,
         ):
             kwargs["G"] = voutgrd
diff --git a/pygmt/src/surface.py b/pygmt/src/surface.py
index 23fdbdb353d..13c72a19b3b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/surface.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/surface.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def surface(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, outgrid: str | None = None, **kwa
     with Session() as lib:
         with (
             lib.virtualfile_in(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             ) as vintbl,
             lib.virtualfile_out(kind="grid", fname=outgrid) as voutgrd,
         ):
diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index 3e72b30b328..4fcfba40b5e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912
         kind = data_kind(textfiles)
         if kind == "vectors" and text is None:
             raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide text with x/y pairs")
+        if kind != "vectors" and text is not None:
+            raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide text with x/y pairs")
     else:
         if any(v is not None for v in (x, y, textfiles)):
             raise GMTInvalidInput(
@@ -203,16 +205,23 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912
     ):
         kwargs.update({"F": ""})
 
-    extra_arrays = []
-    for arg, flag in [(angle, "+a"), (font, "+f"), (justify, "+j")]:
+    vectors = [x, y]
+    names = ["x", "y"]
+    for arg, flag, name in [
+        (angle, "+a", "angle"),
+        (font, "+f", "font"),
+        (justify, "+j", "justify"),
+    ]:
         if arg is True:
             kwargs["F"] += flag
         elif is_nonstr_iter(arg):
             kwargs["F"] += flag
             if flag == "+a":  # angle is numeric type
-                extra_arrays.append(np.atleast_1d(arg))
+                vectors.append(np.atleast_1d(arg))
+                names.append(name)
             else:  # font or justify is str type
-                extra_arrays.append(np.atleast_1d(arg).astype(str))
+                vectors.append(np.atleast_1d(arg).astype(str))
+                names.append(name)
         elif isinstance(arg, int | float | str):
             kwargs["F"] += f"{flag}{arg}"
 
@@ -222,8 +231,9 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912
     # If an array of transparency is given, GMT will read it from
     # the last numerical column per data record.
     if is_nonstr_iter(kwargs.get("t")):
-        extra_arrays.append(kwargs["t"])
+        vectors.append(kwargs["t"])
         kwargs["t"] = ""
+        names.append("transparency")
 
     # Append text at last column. Text must be passed in as str type.
     confdict = {}
@@ -234,14 +244,15 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912
             text = np.vectorize(non_ascii_to_octal, excluded="encoding")(
                 text, encoding=encoding
             )
-        extra_arrays.append(text)
+        vectors.append(text)
+        names.append("text")
 
         if encoding not in {"ascii", "ISOLatin1+"}:
             confdict = {"PS_CHAR_ENCODING": encoding}
 
     with Session() as lib:
         with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            check_kind="vector", data=textfiles, x=x, y=y, extra_arrays=extra_arrays
+            check_kind="vector", data=textfiles, vectors=vectors, names=names
         ) as vintbl:
             lib.call_module(
                 module="text",
diff --git a/pygmt/src/triangulate.py b/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
index 1765bd1d28e..16473b37db0 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
@@ -135,10 +135,14 @@ def regular_grid(
         ``triangulate`` is a Cartesian or small-geographic area operator and is
         unaware of periodic or polar boundary conditions.
         """
+        vectors, names = [x, y], "xy"
+        if z is not None:
+            vectors.append(z)
+
         with Session() as lib:
             with (
                 lib.virtualfile_in(
-                    check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=False
+                    check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
                 ) as vintbl,
                 lib.virtualfile_out(kind="grid", fname=outgrid) as voutgrd,
             ):
@@ -235,10 +239,14 @@ def delaunay_triples(
         """
         output_type = validate_output_table_type(output_type, outfile=outfile)
 
+        vectors, names = [x, y], "xy"
+        if z is not None:
+            vectors.append(z)
+
         with Session() as lib:
             with (
                 lib.virtualfile_in(
-                    check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=False
+                    check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=vectors, names=names
                 ) as vintbl,
                 lib.virtualfile_out(kind="dataset", fname=outfile) as vouttbl,
             ):
diff --git a/pygmt/src/wiggle.py b/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
index 921c5317349..1daebbce1ea 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
@@ -108,6 +108,6 @@ def wiggle(
 
     with Session() as lib:
         with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
+            check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
         ) as vintbl:
             lib.call_module(module="wiggle", args=build_arg_list(kwargs, infile=vintbl))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py b/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
index 2eedfb62e83..e2e3528ba23 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def xyz2grd(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, outgrid: str | None = None, **kwa
     with Session() as lib:
         with (
             lib.virtualfile_in(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
+                check_kind="vector", data=data, vectors=[x, y, z], names="xyz"
             ) as vintbl,
             lib.virtualfile_out(kind="grid", fname=outgrid) as voutgrd,
         ):
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py b/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py
index b8b5ee0500d..d0a75455302 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py
@@ -140,9 +140,7 @@ def test_virtualfile_in_required_z_matrix(array_func, kind):
     )
     data = array_func(dataframe)
     with clib.Session() as lib:
-        with lib.virtualfile_in(
-            data=data, required_z=True, check_kind="vector"
-        ) as vfile:
+        with lib.virtualfile_in(data=data, names="xyz", check_kind="vector") as vfile:
             with GMTTempFile() as outfile:
                 lib.call_module("info", [vfile, f"->{outfile.name}"])
                 output = outfile.read(keep_tabs=True)
@@ -163,7 +161,7 @@ def test_virtualfile_in_required_z_matrix_missing():
     data = np.ones((5, 2))
     with clib.Session() as lib:
         with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-            with lib.virtualfile_in(data=data, required_z=True, check_kind="vector"):
+            with lib.virtualfile_in(data=data, names="xyz", check_kind="vector"):
                 pass
 
 
@@ -179,7 +177,7 @@ def test_virtualfile_in_fail_non_valid_data(data):
             continue
         with clib.Session() as lib:
             with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-                lib.virtualfile_in(x=variable[0], y=variable[1])
+                lib.virtualfile_in(vectors=variable[:2])
 
     # Test all combinations where at least one data variable
     # is not given in the x, y, z case:
@@ -189,19 +187,12 @@ def test_virtualfile_in_fail_non_valid_data(data):
             continue
         with clib.Session() as lib:
             with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-                lib.virtualfile_in(
-                    x=variable[0], y=variable[1], z=variable[2], required_z=True
-                )
+                lib.virtualfile_in(vectors=variable[:3], names="xyz")
 
     # Should also fail if given too much data
     with clib.Session() as lib:
         with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-            lib.virtualfile_in(
-                x=data[:, 0],
-                y=data[:, 1],
-                z=data[:, 2],
-                data=data,
-            )
+            lib.virtualfile_in(vectors=data[:, :3], data=data, names="xyz")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.benchmark