Hey there, fellow Programmers! Let's talk about something we all do but rarely think about: naming our code.
Imagine walking into a room where everything is labeled with "thing1", "thing2", "thing3". Confusing, right? That's exactly how bad code names feel to other developers.
Here's a terrible example:
def f(x, y): return x * y
Now, a better version:
def calculate_rectangle_area(length, width): return length * width
See the difference? The second version tells you exactly what's happening.
Good names answer three key questions:
Let's look at a real-world example:
# Bad: Unclear purpose def process(data): result = [] for item in data: if item > 0: result.append(item) return result # Better: Clear and intentional def filter_positive_numbers(number_list): return [number for number in number_list if number > 0]
Common mistakes to dodge:
# Avoid usr_cnt = len(users) # Prefer user_count = len(users)
# Confusing def get_user_info() def get_user_data() def get_user_details() # Clear def get_user_profile()
# Bad def calc(x, y, z): return x * y / z # Good def calculate_average_rate(total_revenue, total_hours, number_of_projects): return total_revenue / (total_hours * number_of_projects)
# Great naming example class CustomerAccount: MAX_WITHDRAWAL_LIMIT = 5000 def calculate_monthly_interest(self, balance): return balance * 0.05
Names should make sense in their environment. A variable like state could mean anything. But customer_state or order_processing_state is crystal clear.
# Unclear def update(state): pass # Clear def update_order_processing_state(order_status): pass
Naming isn't just typing words. It's communication. You're telling a story with your code. Make it a story others want to read.
Your future self will thank you. Your teammates will thank you. Heck, even your computer might give you a virtual high-five✋.
The above is the detailed content of The Art of Naming in Programming: Why Good Names Matter!. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!