10 Programming Best Practices To Cite Variables, Methods, Classes Too Packages
What's inwards name? "A rose past times whatever other elevate would odor as sweet" is a famous quote from William Shakespeare's classic Romeo together with Juliet, but sad to say, elevate affair a lot inwards programming together with coding. It's also said that code is the best document for whatever software, because whatever other document or comments tin move outdated quickly, but code volition ever tell yous truth; If code is together with then best document than names are virtually critical chemical ingredient of it. Every effort, modest or big, invested spell naming variables or methods, pays inwards both curt term together with long term. In fact, if yous enquire me exactly ane coding exercise to follow, It would definitely recommend giving meaningful names to your variables together with methods. One reason, I force for this coding exercise is because it improves readability of whatever algorithm or programme drastically. Since every programmer spends to a greater extent than fourth dimension reading code than writing, It would brand a lot of feel to give meaningful names to your programming element. Readability is also ane of the virtually of import aspect of create clean code. If yous remove house to read Clean code, the majority past times Uncle Bob, yous would remove hold seen a whole chapter on meaningful names, this exactly shows how of import it is to elevate your variable, methods, classes together with packages properly. Though these programming best practices are given from a Java programmer's perspective, they are every bit useful inwards whatever other programming language. In fact, virtually of them are independent of whatever programming linguistic communication together with tin survive used spell writing bash script, SQL stored procedures, C++ code and whatever other figurer program. In fact yous volition value these practices to a greater extent than inwards instance of musical rhythm out script together with database stored physical care for because they don't remove hold tools as smart as Java IDEs.
It non exactly include best practices but also bad practices to avoid, because what non to do are every bit of import as what to do. At the same time, this listing is past times no way consummate together with if yous remove hold whatever other proficient exercise spell naming programming elements, experience gratuitous to share.
Perfection is a journeying together with everyday nosotros larn something important. So what are nosotros waiting for, let's run across ameliorate way to elevate your variables, methods, classes together with packages inwards a figurer program.
1) Avoid Pointless Names
Pointless names e.g. variable names as abc, temp, data etc doesn't divulge intent, they exactly trim readability. They are best suited for writing assay programs, curt demo together with non to a greater extent than than 50 lines of code. You should never occupation pointless elevate inwards your routines inwards a professional person project. Why? because assay programs are non maintained but a existent projection is maintained for years, entirely yous piece of work on assay programs but many developers piece of work inwards a professional person project.
2) Give Meaningful Names
This is counterpart of start coding best practice. Instead of pointless names, furnish meaningful names, which reveals intent of programmer. For illustration method elevate amongst getPayDate() is much ameliorate amongst gpd() or getPD() because if I read getPayDate() somewhere inwards my code, I would know that this method is going to render me pay date, fifty-fifty after several years, but same cannot survive said for gpd() or getPD(). One programmer was arguing amongst me that he volition non follow this regulation amongst mortal methods because mortal methods are entirely accessible inwards the shape together with anyone tin run across their definition. He powerfulness remove hold one-half betoken at that spot but it volition non help, because best practices are habits and takes long fourth dimension to develop. If yous don't follow them always, yous are to a greater extent than similar volition non follow even when yous request them. Also if your shape is to a greater extent than that 400 lines long, going dorsum together with forth to run across Definition volition entirely irritate yous to re-factor that method after approximately time.
3) Prefer shorter elevate over longer one, if it divulge intent clearly.
I dearest to occupation curt elevate for my methods but entirely if it's consummate together with divulge programmer's intention clearly, for illustration betwixt getPayDate() together with retreivePaymentDate(), old is ameliorate than later. Since both are able to divulge purpose, shorter ones are slow to read together with write, but don't forget to follow Java edible bean naming convention e.g. if variable elevate is payDate together with then getter method elevate must survive getPayDate(). By the way hither I am tossed betwixt jQuery like method than Java's edible bean convention. I actually enjoyed using methods similar text() which render text (without argument) and overloaded version text(data) (with argument) which changes text.
4) Avoid Similar Names
Nothing is worse than similar names, for illustration having 2 variables employee together with employees, has every same grapheme except final one. This sort of differences are real difficult to spot, together with ofttimes leads to subtle bugs, which are fifty-fifty harder to detect during code reviews. If yous remove hold to stand upward for a collection or plural, prefer something similar listOfEmployees, bunchOfEmployees over employees. By the way, survive careful spell using names which stand upward for programming concept e.g. List is a ordered collection inwards Java, thence approximately Java programmer may think that listOfEmployee is a ordered collection of Employee, which if it doesn't, volition create misunderstanding.
5) Prefer descriptive elevate over curt form
This is counterpart of our before Java naming best practices, where I had argued for shorter names. Disclaimer at that spot was that, shorter elevate must divulge purpose of variable or method e.g. getPayDate() is fine, but getLInd() is non as proficient as getLiquidityIndicator(). So prefer shorter elevate if together with entirely if it divulge intent completely, otherwise remove longer together with descriptive name. What is your method is taking lot of character, ane ground could survive that your method is doing to a greater extent than than ane thing e.g. loadAndUpdateAllInstrumentRecords(), yous tin carve upward this into 2 methods e.g. loadInstruments() together with updateInstruments().
6) Follow Java Coding Convention
If yous are writing Java program, together with then yous must follow Java Coding Convention, It's fifty-fifty to a greater extent than of import if yous are writing opened upward root code. Since Java Coding Conventions are quite mutual amid Java developers, it makes it slow for approximately other programmer to read your code. Some of the virtually mutual Java coding convention are:
- Start elevate of shape as uppercase missive of the alphabet e.g. Employee, Student or Thread.
- Start elevate of method from modest grapheme together with follow camel instance e.g. getEmployee(), getPayDate() etc.
- Use camel instance inwards variable names as good e.g. price, quantity, totalAmount etc.
- Use all caps for constants inwards Java e.g. MAX_QUANTITY, MAX_PRICE etc.
- follow edible bean naming convention, because many opened upward root framework occupation reflection, which plant on edible bean naming convention. For illustration display tag uses reflection together with edible bean naming convention to present information inwards tabular array e.g. if yous specify name, display tag volition telephone band getName() method on tabular array information object.
7) Use Consistent Naming, Avoid Synonyms
This is approximately other naming best exercise which tin survive argued, but consistency overrules whatever potential argument. Having synonyms for similar methods doesn't impairment as good much, but it's ameliorate to survive consistent e.g. instead of having 3 dissimilar methods destroy(), kill(), or finish() at dissimilar modules, prefer ane of them e.g. destroy(). This volition brand your API to a greater extent than usable, as programmer volition survive able to predict together with search to a greater extent than easily. It also helps yous to move on ane functionality at ane house together with avoid accidental duplication of code, shout out upward DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself).
8) Follow Classical Programming Convention
In start Java best practices of naming variables, I had said that avoid using pointless names, but at that spot are exceptions e.g. i and j as loop counter inwards for loop, as shown below.
9) In Java, shape elevate should survive noun
Your shape elevate should survive substantive together with should tell what does this shape stand upward for e.g. Employee, Thread, String etc. Similarly method names should start amongst verb e.g. get, set, do, invoke etc. Interface elevate should force powerfulness or CAN DO component e.g. Runnable tin run, Callable tin survive called etc. packet elevate should follow measure fellowship construction e.g. com.company.project.module. You tin detect examples of Java packet naming convention inwards several opened upward root projection e.g. Apache Commons BeanUtils uses org.apache.commons.beanutils.BasicDynaBean.
10) Avoid Clutters similar _, m_, o_
Some programmers tend to occupation specifies similar m_ to announce member variables, or exactly _ (underscore) to differentiate fellow member variable amongst local variables. Avoid doing that because, it looks similar clutter. Instead of this yous ameliorate remove meaningful together with unique names. By the way, if your projection already uses m_ naming convention, together with then ameliorate stick amongst it, because it's non possible to rewrite or right whole project. It's fifty-fifty worse to remove hold dissimilar naming convention at dissimilar component of code. Similarly, many programmer uses Hungarian musical note e.g. bExit for boolean variable, iMax for integer variables. Those are non as good bad, if yous are working inwards a legacy code, but if yous writing it something from scratch don't occupation them.
11) Avoid using non ASCII characters together with words from local language
Using whatever grapheme other than ASCII character, peculiarly non English linguistic communication is worst practice. Never occupation characters from other languages, it powerfulness non survive supported on all platforms, IDE together with dissimilar machines. Similarly, don't occupation words from local languages e.g. Hindi, French or German. English linguistic communication is a universal linguistic communication for programming together with stick amongst it. It's non guaranteed that adjacent programmer, who volition hold your code, volition sympathize local languages, thence ameliorate avoid it.
12) Make proficient occupation of mutual verb e.g. is, has, tin or do
I flora naming boolean variable together with methods amongst is, has, together with can improves code readability. Methods similar isAlive(), hasNext(), canExecute() adds lot of value. You tin occupation same dominion to elevate boolean variable, which are slow to read when pose on conditional declaration e.g.
That's all on Java best exercise of naming variables, methods, classes together with packages. Most of advice are independent of programming build together with tin survive used, spell writing bash scripts, routines, or SQL stored procedures. Though naming conventions are ane of the commutation aspect of programming, it's ofttimes overlooked. Don't satisfy amongst start go, ever assay to read your code together with strive for to a greater extent than meaningful names, which are clear together with divulge intent. Also zero is as bad as inconsistency, don't mix upper together with lower case, Hungarian convention to Java code convention etc. Let us know, what best practices yous guys are next spell naming variables together with methods inwards Java.
Do yous similar Best Practices articles? If Yes, together with then hither are approximately amazing posts for farther reading together with learning to a greater extent than techniques
Exception Handling Practices for Java Programmer
Tired amongst Null, follow these practices to avoid NPE inwards Java
Clean Code together with Clean Coder majority past times Uncle Bob
Effective Java past times Josh Bloch
Java Best Practices of Proper Naming Convention
Here are approximately of the programming or coding best practices professional person Java developer follow spell writing code, including myself. Most of these practices are mutual feel together with acquired via years of experience of reading together with writing code.It non exactly include best practices but also bad practices to avoid, because what non to do are every bit of import as what to do. At the same time, this listing is past times no way consummate together with if yous remove hold whatever other proficient exercise spell naming programming elements, experience gratuitous to share.
Perfection is a journeying together with everyday nosotros larn something important. So what are nosotros waiting for, let's run across ameliorate way to elevate your variables, methods, classes together with packages inwards a figurer program.
1) Avoid Pointless Names
Pointless names e.g. variable names as abc, temp, data etc doesn't divulge intent, they exactly trim readability. They are best suited for writing assay programs, curt demo together with non to a greater extent than than 50 lines of code. You should never occupation pointless elevate inwards your routines inwards a professional person project. Why? because assay programs are non maintained but a existent projection is maintained for years, entirely yous piece of work on assay programs but many developers piece of work inwards a professional person project.
2) Give Meaningful Names
This is counterpart of start coding best practice. Instead of pointless names, furnish meaningful names, which reveals intent of programmer. For illustration method elevate amongst getPayDate() is much ameliorate amongst gpd() or getPD() because if I read getPayDate() somewhere inwards my code, I would know that this method is going to render me pay date, fifty-fifty after several years, but same cannot survive said for gpd() or getPD(). One programmer was arguing amongst me that he volition non follow this regulation amongst mortal methods because mortal methods are entirely accessible inwards the shape together with anyone tin run across their definition. He powerfulness remove hold one-half betoken at that spot but it volition non help, because best practices are habits and takes long fourth dimension to develop. If yous don't follow them always, yous are to a greater extent than similar volition non follow even when yous request them. Also if your shape is to a greater extent than that 400 lines long, going dorsum together with forth to run across Definition volition entirely irritate yous to re-factor that method after approximately time.
3) Prefer shorter elevate over longer one, if it divulge intent clearly.
I dearest to occupation curt elevate for my methods but entirely if it's consummate together with divulge programmer's intention clearly, for illustration betwixt getPayDate() together with retreivePaymentDate(), old is ameliorate than later. Since both are able to divulge purpose, shorter ones are slow to read together with write, but don't forget to follow Java edible bean naming convention e.g. if variable elevate is payDate together with then getter method elevate must survive getPayDate(). By the way hither I am tossed betwixt jQuery like method than Java's edible bean convention. I actually enjoyed using methods similar text() which render text (without argument) and overloaded version text(data) (with argument) which changes text.
4) Avoid Similar Names
Nothing is worse than similar names, for illustration having 2 variables employee together with employees, has every same grapheme except final one. This sort of differences are real difficult to spot, together with ofttimes leads to subtle bugs, which are fifty-fifty harder to detect during code reviews. If yous remove hold to stand upward for a collection or plural, prefer something similar listOfEmployees, bunchOfEmployees over employees. By the way, survive careful spell using names which stand upward for programming concept e.g. List is a ordered collection inwards Java, thence approximately Java programmer may think that listOfEmployee is a ordered collection of Employee, which if it doesn't, volition create misunderstanding.
5) Prefer descriptive elevate over curt form
This is counterpart of our before Java naming best practices, where I had argued for shorter names. Disclaimer at that spot was that, shorter elevate must divulge purpose of variable or method e.g. getPayDate() is fine, but getLInd() is non as proficient as getLiquidityIndicator(). So prefer shorter elevate if together with entirely if it divulge intent completely, otherwise remove longer together with descriptive name. What is your method is taking lot of character, ane ground could survive that your method is doing to a greater extent than than ane thing e.g. loadAndUpdateAllInstrumentRecords(), yous tin carve upward this into 2 methods e.g. loadInstruments() together with updateInstruments().
6) Follow Java Coding Convention
If yous are writing Java program, together with then yous must follow Java Coding Convention, It's fifty-fifty to a greater extent than of import if yous are writing opened upward root code. Since Java Coding Conventions are quite mutual amid Java developers, it makes it slow for approximately other programmer to read your code. Some of the virtually mutual Java coding convention are:
- Start elevate of shape as uppercase missive of the alphabet e.g. Employee, Student or Thread.
- Start elevate of method from modest grapheme together with follow camel instance e.g. getEmployee(), getPayDate() etc.
- Use camel instance inwards variable names as good e.g. price, quantity, totalAmount etc.
- Use all caps for constants inwards Java e.g. MAX_QUANTITY, MAX_PRICE etc.
- follow edible bean naming convention, because many opened upward root framework occupation reflection, which plant on edible bean naming convention. For illustration display tag uses reflection together with edible bean naming convention to present information inwards tabular array e.g. if yous specify name, display tag volition telephone band getName() method on tabular array information object.
7) Use Consistent Naming, Avoid Synonyms
This is approximately other naming best exercise which tin survive argued, but consistency overrules whatever potential argument. Having synonyms for similar methods doesn't impairment as good much, but it's ameliorate to survive consistent e.g. instead of having 3 dissimilar methods destroy(), kill(), or finish() at dissimilar modules, prefer ane of them e.g. destroy(). This volition brand your API to a greater extent than usable, as programmer volition survive able to predict together with search to a greater extent than easily. It also helps yous to move on ane functionality at ane house together with avoid accidental duplication of code, shout out upward DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself).
8) Follow Classical Programming Convention
In start Java best practices of naming variables, I had said that avoid using pointless names, but at that spot are exceptions e.g. i and j as loop counter inwards for loop, as shown below.
for(int i=0; i<10; i++){ // your code }Programmers are thence familiar amongst that, they would survive surprised to run across whatever other elevate for loop counters. Similarly getters together with setters are named similar that.
9) In Java, shape elevate should survive noun
Your shape elevate should survive substantive together with should tell what does this shape stand upward for e.g. Employee, Thread, String etc. Similarly method names should start amongst verb e.g. get, set, do, invoke etc. Interface elevate should force powerfulness or CAN DO component e.g. Runnable tin run, Callable tin survive called etc. packet elevate should follow measure fellowship construction e.g. com.company.project.module. You tin detect examples of Java packet naming convention inwards several opened upward root projection e.g. Apache Commons BeanUtils uses org.apache.commons.beanutils.BasicDynaBean.
10) Avoid Clutters similar _, m_, o_
Some programmers tend to occupation specifies similar m_ to announce member variables, or exactly _ (underscore) to differentiate fellow member variable amongst local variables. Avoid doing that because, it looks similar clutter. Instead of this yous ameliorate remove meaningful together with unique names. By the way, if your projection already uses m_ naming convention, together with then ameliorate stick amongst it, because it's non possible to rewrite or right whole project. It's fifty-fifty worse to remove hold dissimilar naming convention at dissimilar component of code. Similarly, many programmer uses Hungarian musical note e.g. bExit for boolean variable, iMax for integer variables. Those are non as good bad, if yous are working inwards a legacy code, but if yous writing it something from scratch don't occupation them.
11) Avoid using non ASCII characters together with words from local language
Using whatever grapheme other than ASCII character, peculiarly non English linguistic communication is worst practice. Never occupation characters from other languages, it powerfulness non survive supported on all platforms, IDE together with dissimilar machines. Similarly, don't occupation words from local languages e.g. Hindi, French or German. English linguistic communication is a universal linguistic communication for programming together with stick amongst it. It's non guaranteed that adjacent programmer, who volition hold your code, volition sympathize local languages, thence ameliorate avoid it.
12) Make proficient occupation of mutual verb e.g. is, has, tin or do
I flora naming boolean variable together with methods amongst is, has, together with can improves code readability. Methods similar isAlive(), hasNext(), canExecute() adds lot of value. You tin occupation same dominion to elevate boolean variable, which are slow to read when pose on conditional declaration e.g.
if(isRaining){ bringUmbrella(); }
That's all on Java best exercise of naming variables, methods, classes together with packages. Most of advice are independent of programming build together with tin survive used, spell writing bash scripts, routines, or SQL stored procedures. Though naming conventions are ane of the commutation aspect of programming, it's ofttimes overlooked. Don't satisfy amongst start go, ever assay to read your code together with strive for to a greater extent than meaningful names, which are clear together with divulge intent. Also zero is as bad as inconsistency, don't mix upper together with lower case, Hungarian convention to Java code convention etc. Let us know, what best practices yous guys are next spell naming variables together with methods inwards Java.
Do yous similar Best Practices articles? If Yes, together with then hither are approximately amazing posts for farther reading together with learning to a greater extent than techniques
Exception Handling Practices for Java Programmer
Tired amongst Null, follow these practices to avoid NPE inwards Java
Clean Code together with Clean Coder majority past times Uncle Bob
Effective Java past times Josh Bloch
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