Code Refactoring

Code Refactoring means the modification of the existing code in a way that does not change the externally observable behavior of the code or its Wish List. It is like cleaning a room but without the aspect of having to dispose of something, just organizing the items in a better way. Refactoring aims at enhancing the quality of the source code while maintaining the external behaviour of the code in the same way, that is, enhancing its comprehensibility.

This process is generally a sequence of several minor modifications that do not provoke the appearance of new defects. Therefore, refactoring increases the aesthetic and structure of the code while at the same time increasing the efficiency of the development and decreasing the chances of introducing an error. In this way, refactoring improves the software without increasing the functionality of the code its purpose is to improve.

Refactoring enhances the source code systematically and the modifications are done in the entire codebase. The concept is to make frequent, but subtle changes to the code that, when added up, greatly enhance the code organization and reduce its complexity, but not its functionality.

The Need for Code Refactoring

Clean Code: Refactoring removes code smells and improves the code to be more comprehended and easy to understand. It eliminates code repetition, excess variables/parameters, big classes and File I/O, as well as excess loops. This process also make sure that every code or the architecture that can have a breach is easily identified and can be corrected.

Enhanced Performance: Lacking an application with additional classes, functions, or variables that are not essential is efficient in the application’s performance. When the code has been edited recently or the application has been refactored in some manner, the performance of the application is enhanced, this means that the response time will be quicker and the user experience will be enhanced.

Saving Time and Money: This is because it is easy to identify code that is well arranged and free from clutter and thus it is easy and cheap to incorporate new features. It is repelling to any developer to sit and try to understand what a particular code is trying to convey and it is not well written. Refactored applications are also easy and efficient to extend or upgrade hence reducing on time and resources that could be used in the process.

Consequently, code refactoring can be said to be a vital process that should be performed within any software development project so as to guarantee that the code is clean and optimized for use in order to offer the best application software.

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