In the world of programming, there are two main ways to format variable names: snake case and camel case. There’s a lot of debate in the programming world about which is better – camel case or snake case. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of each approach so you can decide for yourself which is best suited for your needs.
Camel case
Have you ever seen a word that looks like this: camelCase? No, it’s not the name of a new type of camel. It’s actually a popular method for writing compound words. The idea is to join together words without spaces, using only capital letters for the first letter of each word.
For example, “camel case” becomes “camelCase.”
This style is often used in computing, because it makes it easier to read long strings of text without spaces. In fact, many programming languages use camel case for this reason. However, it’s not just for programmers. Anyone can use camel case when they need to write a long, compound word. Just remember to capitalize the first letter of each word, and you’ll be all set.
Camel case is often used in languages like Java and C++.
Advantages and disadvantages of Camel case
It’s clear that there are pros and cons to using this type of capitalization.
On the plus side, Camel case makes words easier to read, since there are no sharp breaks between the letters. This can be especially helpful when reading long strings of text. Additionally, Camel case can help to make words stand out, which can be useful for emphasis or for visual appeal.
Some drawbacks to using Camel case. First, it can be difficult to learn how to use Camel case correctly, since the rules for capitalization can be complex. Additionally, if words are not properly formatted in Camel case, they may be difficult to read or understand.
Overall, whether or not to use Camel case is a decision that should be made on a case-by-case basis.
Snake case
Snake case is the standard way to write variable names in computer programming, and it’s quickly gaining popularity in other fields as well.
The name comes from the fact that snake case words look like they could be the names of snakes, with lowercase letters slithering between underscores.
For example, “this_is_snake_case”.
But don’t let the name fool you – snake case is a very versatile way to write. In fact, it can be used for more than just variable names. Some people use snake case for everything from email addresses to Twitter handles.
Snake case is often used in languages like Python and Ruby.
Advantages and disadvantages of Snake case
The advantage of snake case is that it makes variable names easy to read. When you see a name like this_is_snake_case, you can immediately tell what each word is, and you don’t have to worry about capitalization. This can be helpful when you’re scanning through code looking for a particular variable.
However, some people find snake case to be visually unappealing. They think it looks messy and difficult to read. In addition, since words are often abbreviated in snake case (e.g., “thisIsASnakeCaseVariable” would be written as “this_is_a_snake_case_variable”), it can be difficult to remember what a variable represents.
Conclusion
So, which is the better option? Well, that depends on your needs. If you’re working on a project with strict naming conventions, then you’ll need to use the style that’s required. However, if you have some flexibility, then it’s really a matter of personal preference. Some programmers find camel case to be more concise and easier to read, while others prefer the visual separation that snake case provides. Ultimately, the best way to format your variable names is the way that makes the most sense to you and your team.
