Naming Conventions

When writing Java code, one of the most important practices is adhering to proper naming conventions. Consistent naming conventions improve code readability, maintainability, and understanding across developers.

• Class Names: Class names should be written in PascalCase (also known as UpperCamelCase). This means the first letter of each word is capitalized with no spaces between words.

• Method Names: Method names should follow camelCase—starting with a lowercase letter and capitalizing each subsequent word.

• Variable Names: Variable names should also follow camelCase, just like method names, but they represent data. Use descriptive names that reflect the purpose of the variable.

• Constants: Constants in Java are usually written in UPPERCASE with words separated by underscores (_). Constants are typically defined using the final keyword, indicating they cannot be changed once initialized.

• Package Names: Package names should be written in lowercase letters, and when combining multiple words, separate them with dots (.).

• Interface Names: Interface names typically use PascalCase and should be descriptive. It’s a common practice to prefix interface names with an I (although this is optional, it’s widely used in some coding standards).

• Enum Names: Enum names should follow PascalCase and should be singular if referring to a single constant or plural if referring to a group of constants.

• Generic Types: Generic type parameters are usually written in single uppercase letters. The most common convention is using T for a general type and other letters like E for elements, K for keys, and V for values.

Summary