Do decoupler chunks affect docking port function?

[THX1138]

Do the chunks left attached to a docking port after detachment of a decoupler affect the docking port function?

 

[mk1980]

probably not. those "chunks" will disappear when you reload the craft (ie. switch to other craft or space center and back and they are gone)

but why put a decoupler on a docking port? the docking port itself *is* technically a decoupler - you can just put other stuff on the docking port (doesn't have to be another matching docking port) and undock/decouple the other stuff without the need for an additional part.

[Snark]

1 hour ago, mk1980 said:

probably not. those "chunks" will disappear when you reload the craft (ie. switch to other craft or space center and back and they are gone)

^ This.  It won't be a problem; that "residue" is eye-candy only and won't affect it.

1 hour ago, mk1980 said:

but why put a decoupler on a docking port? the docking port itself *is* technically a decoupler - you can just put other stuff on the docking port (doesn't have to be another matching docking port) and undock/decouple the other stuff without the need for an additional part.

That's a good point for stack attachments.  However, from the screenshot, he's got something attached radially.  Docking ports are themselves surface-attachable, but their attachment nodes aren't-- if the OP wants to attach something radially that doesn't have a node there (e.g. a fuel tank, or whatever), I don't think it would be attachable to the docking port.  (If one were really determined, I expect it would be possible by playing some jiggery-pokery with a BZ-52, a subassembly, and re-rooting, but frankly I think it would be a whole lot easier just to use a radial decoupler.)