What is code refactoring and when is it used?

If you’re interested in programming, you’ve probably come across the term code refactoring. But if this term doesn’t mean anything to you and you want to know more about it, in this article we’ll tell you everything you need to know about refactoring, why to refactor, when code refactoring is appropriate, and what types of refactoring we know.

Refactoring is the process of changing the internal structure, i.e. the existing source code, of a program or application without changing its external behaviour. Refactoring aims to eliminate problems such as duplicate code, over-long methods or functions, over-long loops, too many function parameters, over-large classes with many attributes, unnecessarily complex abstractions, and switches based on data from another class. The aim is to improve non-functional features of the code, with the intention of making it easier to read and understand, and easier to maintain, modify and extend.

Reasons for refactoring in application development

Many people believe that if the source code is not broken and works without major problems, there is no need to fix it further. However, refactoring can extend the life and slow down the aging process of source code in application development. There is also a big advantage in terms of reverting back to the code and making future improvements, which is still extremely expensive.

In addition to improving the design and clarity of software, refactoring helps to find bugs, fix software design, and enable faster programming. Instead of having to manually search for errors, the developer can concentrate on writing code. As a result of refactoring, the number of classes and methods typically increases, but their size decreases, creating smaller and simpler parts of the source code.

When to use application source code refactoring?

In general, source code refactoring is possible and appropriate at any time. If you feel that your program or application has reached a point where it is very difficult to navigate, or you are not sure if something is right or wrong, refactoring can be a lifesaver. It is ideal for adding a new feature to a program, finding and fixing bugs, maintenance or future payback. So if you are likely to return to the code in the future, refactoring will definitely help.

Types of refactoring

In the context of refactoring, we distinguish several types of refactoring, such as refactoring at the data, statement, function, implementation and class interface levels, or global refactoring:

• Data refactoring – this includes operations such as changing the name of a variable, replacing a variable with an expression or an expression with a function, changing a primitive data type to a class, or splitting a multipurpose variable into several variables.
• Statement refactoring – includes, for example, merging duplicate code parts, using break or return statements instead of a loop control variable, and replacing conditional code with polymorphism.
• Function refactoring – this includes operations such as function extraction, adding and removing parameters, replacing a complex algorithm with a simple one, and merging similar or splitting dissimilar functions.
• Class implementation refactoring – this includes moving attributes, methods or constructor bodies between subclasses or superclasses, or changing the location of a method or data.
• Class interface refactoring – this includes operations such as dropping or splitting a class, moving a method within classes, adding a foreign function and extending a class.
• Global refactoring – this includes things like creating a resource for data that we do not control or changing a one-way binding between classes to a bidirectional one and vice versa.

Even Java programming can’t do without code refactoring. If you’re proficient in programming languages and are interested in working as a developer, then we’re looking for you. Software developer job comes with many benefits, including an attractive salary and opportunities for career growth. As a Java developer, you can work your way up to the position of Java developer senior where you can earn a really interesting developer salary.

So if you know the basics of programming and have the desire to work on interesting projects in a leading IT company, check out our job offers for developers and send us your CV. At msg life Slovakia we offer you a rich employee program and employee benefits that you never dreamed of. Join us and participate with us in creating the future of digital insurance.