PHP is a versatile and widely used programming language, powering a significant portion of the web. However, like any language, it’s easy to fall into bad habits that can lead to inefficient, unreadable, and even insecure code. In this article, we’ll explore five bad examples of PHP code and discuss why they should be avoided.
🞜The Disorder of Abbreviated Naming.
Here, we encounter a situation where variable names suffer from improper abbreviation, causing confusion and disorder within the code.
Opting for $acntBal instead of $accountBalance might appear to be a shortcut, but it sacrifices code clarity and sustainability.
When developers shorten variable names, they introduce needless uncertainty into the codebase. $acntBal lacks the clarity inherent in $accountBalance, making it challenging for team members to swiftly grasp its purpose. This ambiguity heightens the risk of errors during code upkeep or collaborative work.
Furthermore, abbreviated variable names impede code comprehension, particularly for developers unfamiliar with the codebase. This can prolong the onboarding process for new team members and increase time spent deciphering the code.
Ultimately, any time saved by using abbreviated variable names is eclipsed by the potential for confusion and mistakes. Clear, descriptive variable names like $accountBalance enhance code comprehension and sustainability, thereby bolstering the efficiency of development endeavors in the long run.
🞜Ineffective Looping Methods
Here’s yet another instance of poor coding practice:
Within this example, we encounter inefficient looping that redundantly recalculates the array’s length during each iteration.
The loop traverses the $numbers array using an index variable $i to compute the sum of its elements. However, instead of precomputing and storing the array’s length in a separate variable prior to the loop, the code repeatedly calls the count($numbers) function within each iteration. This results in unnecessary overhead and diminishes the code’s efficiency.
Consequences:
Performance Overhead: The repetitive invocation of count($numbers) in each iteration imposes unnecessary computational burden, particularly for sizable arrays.
Readability: Due to the recurring function calls within the loop, the code becomes less comprehensible and more convoluted.
Maintenance Challenges: Future modifications to the loop might inadvertently introduce additional function calls or alter the loop’s behavior, potentially leading to bugs or unintended outcomes. To enhance efficiency and readability, it’s advisable to compute the array’s length once before the loop and store it in a dedicated variable. This eliminates the need for redundant function calls within the loop and enhances the code’s performance.
By storing the array’s length in a separate variable $length before entering the loop, we sidestep the performance overhead associated with redundant function calls, thereby enhancing the efficiency and readability of the code.
🞜 Excessive Use of Global Variables.
In this scenario, the variable $counter is declared outside any function, rendering it a global variable. The function incrementCounter() is crafted to increment this global variable.
Explanation
Global State: Utilizing global variables introduces a global state, enabling access to and modification of the variable’s value from any portion of the code. This may result in unintended interactions among different segments of the program, complicating reasoning and debugging processes.
Dependency: Functions reliant on global variables become tightly bound to these variables, making it challenging to reuse or refactor the code, as alterations to the global variable can impact multiple sections of the program.
Testing Challenges: Global variables can pose difficulties in unit testing, as their values may unpredictably change during program execution, complicating the isolation and testing of individual components.
Consequences
Code Complexity: Global variables augment the complexity of the codebase by introducing concealed dependencies, hindering the comprehension of data flow throughout the program.
Debugging Complexity: Identifying the source of unexpected behavior becomes more arduous due to potential interactions with global variables.
Maintenance Hurdles: Modifying code reliant on global variables necessitates careful consideration of potential impacts on other program sections, impeding development and heightening the risk of introducing bugs.
To enhance code quality, it’s advisable to minimize the use of global variables whenever feasible. Instead, contemplate utilizing function parameters or encapsulating data within objects to restrict variable scope and diminish dependencies among different program parts.
In conclusion, writing clean, secure, and maintainable code in PHP requires adherence to best practices and avoiding common pitfalls.
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