Best Practices for Writing Clean & Maintainable Code

Himanshu Patel
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In the fast-paced world of software development, writing clean and maintainable code is essential for long-term success. Code that is easy to read, understand, and modify ensures better collaboration, fewer bugs, and faster feature enhancements. Whether you're working on a small project or an enterprise application, following clean coding techniques every developer should follow can significantly improve efficiency and maintainability.

In this blog, we will explore clean code best practices and maintainable code techniques to help developers build robust and scalable applications.

Clean and maintainable code

1. Write Readable and Self-Explanatory Code

One of the fundamental principles of writing clean code is code readability. If developers struggle to understand your code, maintenance and debugging become a nightmare.

How can we improve code quality in software development through readability?

Use meaningful and descriptive variable and function names
Follow consistent indentation and formatting styles
Avoid deep nesting and complex logic in a single-function
Use comments to explain non-obvious logic, but avoid excessive commenting

Example (Bad Practice)

function c(n, x) {
    if (n > 0) {
        return n * c(n - 1, x);
    }
    return 1;
}

Example (Clean Code)

function calculateFactorial(number) {
    if (number > 0) {
        return number * calculateFactorial(number - 1);
    }
    return 1;
}

Takeaway

Descriptive function names eliminate the need for unnecessary comments and make the code self-explanatory.

2. Keep Functions Small and Focused

Each function should serve a single purpose and do it well. Following the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) helps improve code maintainability.

Maintainable Code Techniques for Functions

Keep functions short—ideally 20-30 lines max
Ensure each function does one thing only
Avoid passing too many arguments (prefer objects where necessary)

Example (Bad Practice)

function processUser(user, updateDB, sendEmail, generateReport) {
    if (updateDB) {
        updateUserInDatabase(user);
    }
    if (sendEmail) {
        sendEmailNotification(user);
    }
    if (generateReport) {
        generateUserReport(user);
    }
}

Example (Clean Code - Single Responsibility)

function updateUser(user) {
    updateUserInDatabase(user);
}

function notifyUser(user) {
    sendEmailNotification(user);
}

function generateReport(user) {
    generateUserReport(user);
}

Takeaway

Small, single-purpose functions improve testability and reusability.

3. Follow Consistent Naming Conventions

A consistent naming convention makes your code predictable and easier to understand.

Clean Coding Techniques Every Developer Should Follow for Naming:

Use camelCase for variables and functions (e.g., getUserData)
Use PascalCase for class names (e.g., UserProfile)
Use SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE for constants (e.g., MAX_ATTEMPTS)
Avoid abbreviations (e.g., usr vs. user)

Example (Bad Practice)

def g():
    return "Hello"

Example (Clean Code)

def get_greeting():
    return "Hello"

Takeaway

Good naming conventions reduce ambiguity and improve readability.

4. Reduce Code Duplication

Repetitive code increases maintenance effort and bugs. Use DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principles to eliminate redundancy.

How to Write Maintainable Code Without Duplication?

Use reusable functions instead of copying code
Use loops or built-in methods instead of manual iterations
Apply object-oriented principles like inheritance

Example (Bad Practice - Duplicate Code)

public void printUserDetails(User user) {
    System.out.println("User Name: " + user.getName());
    System.out.println("Email: " + user.getEmail());
}

public void printAdminDetails(Admin admin) {
    System.out.println("Admin Name: " + admin.getName());
    System.out.println("Email: " + admin.getEmail());
}

Example (Clean Code - DRY Principle)

public void printDetails(Person person) {
    System.out.println("Name: " + person.getName());
    System.out.println("Email: " + person.getEmail());
}

Takeaway

Avoid duplication—refactor and make code reusable.

5. Use Proper Error Handling

Errors are inevitable, but proper handling ensures a smooth user experience.

Best Practices for Error Handling in Software Development

Use try-catch blocks to handle errors gracefully
Log errors instead of displaying raw error messages
Avoid generic error messages—be specific

Example (Bad Practice - No Error Handling)

def divide_numbers(a, b):
    return a / b

Example (Clean Code - Proper Error Handling)

def divide_numbers(a, b):
    try:
        return a / b
    except ZeroDivisionError:
        return "Error: Cannot divide by zero"

Takeaway

Handle errors explicitly to prevent application crashes.

6. Optimize Code for Performance and Scalability

How to Improve Code Quality in Software Development for Performance:

Use efficient data structures (e.g., HashMap instead of List for lookups)
Minimize API calls and database queries
Cache results where applicable
Avoid unnecessary computations in loops

Example (Bad Practice - Unoptimized Loop)

let users = getUsers();
users.forEach(user => {
    console.log(getUserDetails(user.id));
});

Example (Clean Code - Optimized with Caching)

let users = getUsers();
let userDetailsCache = getAllUserDetails();
users.forEach(user => {
    console.log(userDetailsCache[user.id]);
});

Takeaway

Optimized code ensures faster performance and better scalability.

Conclusion

Following these clean code best practices and maintainable code techniques can significantly improve the efficiency, readability, and longevity of your software projects. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, how to write maintainable code should always be a priority to ensure smooth collaboration and easy debugging.

By implementing clean coding techniques every developer should follow, you will not only write high-quality software but also make life easier for future developers (including yourself!).

Key Takeaways