View source for Naming convention (programming)

In [[computer programming]], a '''naming convention''' is a set of rules for choosing names.  For more general usage, see [[Naming convention]].

== Description ==
Naming conventions are useful when choosing the [[character sequence]] to be used for [[Identifier|identifiers]] which denote:

* [[Variable (computer science)|Variables]]
* [[Data type|Data types]]
* [[Function (computer science)|functions]]
* Other entities in [[source code]] and [[Software documentation|software documentation]].

== Description ==

Reasons for using a naming convention (as opposed to allowing programmers to choose any character sequence) include:

* To reduce the effort needed to read and understand [[source code]]
* To enable code reviews be able to focus on more important issues than arguing over syntax and naming standards.
* To enable code quality review tools be able to focus their reporting mainly on significant issues other than syntax and style preferences.
* To enhance source code appearance (for example, by disallowing overly long names or unclear abbreviations).

== On the difficulty of naming things ==

<blockquote>
There are only two hard things in Computer Science: cache invalidation and naming things.

-- Phil Karlton
</blockquote>

This quote (much-repeated-with-variations) may misquoted or mis-attributed.  (See [http://martinfowler.com/bliki/TwoHardThings.html TwoHardThings] by Martin Fowler.)

== Wider usage ==

The term [[naming convention]] has a similar meaning in other fields.

== See also ==

* [[Naming convention]]
* [[Variable (computer science)]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_convention_(programming) Naming convention (programming)] @ Wikipedia


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