What is Refactoring and Why Should a Team Do Refactoring?

Are Refactoring and Code Refactoring the Same?

You can use the term “refactor” to mean many different things in software development. It can refer to the act of restructuring code or data structures.

Developers can also use it as a verb meaning to make changes that improve the design and maintainability of something.

Refactoring and code refactoring are not the same things. 

Refactoring is an activity that changes the internal structure of a program, while businesses use code refactorings to clean up and improve programming syntax, readability, and maintainability.

Refactoring is a process in software development that changes the internal structure of a program. Code refactoring is a type of refactoring that deals with the code instead of the program’s internal structure.

Code refactoring is a process of modifying code without changing its behavior.

Refactoring changes the structure, design, or implementation of a software system.

What Is Code Refactoring?

Refactoring is the process in which the development team restructures the body of an underlying code or changes the internal structure of the software to enhance the overall functionality and performance of the product.

Pro tip: To craft unique products and keep track of the product’s performance, use product management software like Chisel. 

Generally, without the knowledge of the end-user, development teams conduct refactoring. 

Are Refactoring and Restructuring Same?

Refactoring and restructuring are closely related terms. They are both a part of the software development process. However, they have some crucial differences between them.

In software development, refactoring is a type of software maintenance that aims to improve the design or architecture of an existing system without changing its source code. 

Restructuring is a type of software maintenance where the goal is to change the design or architecture of an existing system by modifying its source code.

Both refactoring and restructuring can be done manually or automatically through tools like automation frameworks or code generators.

Why Should a Team Do Refactoring?

Refactoring mainly ensures that the development team can work on the code without difficulties. 

Code refactoring enables the development team to enhance its readability and makes it less complex. All of this makes the maintenance much easier and makes the internal structure of the software much more adaptable to newer innovations.

Refactoring has many benefits, including:

• Improving code quality

• Reducing technical debt

• Increasing productivity and efficiency

• Reducing costs associated with future changes

• Better code structure, reduced bug rates, and improved performance

What Are Some Code Refactoring Examples?

Code refactoring is a process of changing the internal structure of computer software. 

The main goal of code refactoring aims to improve its design, performance, or usability.

Some examples of code refactoring include:

• Move object from class to module;

• Rename variable to make it clearer;

• Remove unused code;

• Renaming a function or method to make it more readable;

• Moving code from one module to another;

• Removing duplication in the code;

• Reorganizing the code

Tips on How to Refactor Code

• Find the purpose of the code
• Identify patterns in the code
• Understand what is happening in the code
• Keep a record of changes
• Figure out what will happen if your code doesn’t work
• Start with small changes, not huge ones
• Don’t be afraid to delete code
• Make sure that all related classes are on the same level of abstraction
• Use testing frameworks such as JUnit or TestNG, or use automated tests for your refactoring process

Three other main tips on how to refactor code are:

Use the right tool for the job

You must use the right tool for the job. If you are trying to refactor a large codebase, it would be better to use a different tool than if you were trying to refactor one line of code.

Test and test again

It is also essential to test your code before releasing it. You should not release any software without testing it or making sure that it works as intended.

Understand what each function does and what each method return

The above is one of the essential tips because you need to understand what each function and method does when refactoring.