Master The Java Coding Best Practices In 2023
Having an in-depth knowledge of Java programming language can open new and exciting avenues for aspiring developers in the software industry. How so? Almost all Fortune 500 companies leverage a strategically designed Java coding best practices checklist for application development.
Functionally speaking, it is used to develop desktop and mobile apps, android apps, server apps, software tools, J2ME apps, embedded systems, big data processing, scientific applications, and so on.
Java is one of the oldest programming languages. As such, there are a lot of great books and online resources that you can learn from. Java derives its syntax from C, and lots of other languages also derive their syntax from C, so if you learn Java, then learning a language like JavaScript, C#, or C++ is much easier. It is an object-oriented language, so a lot of the foundational concepts you learn inside of Java are transferable to other languages.
Java Coding Best Practices To Follow
The first step to mastering the Java language is knowing what purpose it serves. Java is an object-oriented, write-once-run-anywhere, server-side programming language. Write once, run anywhere (WORA) was a 1995 slogan created by Sun Microsystems to highlight that Java is an all-purpose language that runs on any platform. It uses something called the Java Virtual Machine that allows Java applications to run anywhere.
The second step is knowing how to make the most of this language to build intuitive systems and applications. In this blog, we will explore Java coding best practices in 2023.
1. Assign Modifiers To Class Fields:
When working with the Java programming language, one of the first things that developers have to be mindful of is keeping the class fields as inaccessible as possible.
This is the best way to ensure enhanced protection of the fields and to maintain encapsulation. This task can be easily handled by using the private access modifier; by assigning modifiers to classes precisely.
2. The Dilemma Of Single & Double Quotes:
Yes, it is common knowledge that double quotes are associated with strings and single quotes are used for characters. However, using them can be tricky when developers are working on slightly complex projects.
This is especially the case when developers have to concatenate characters to make a string. Here, it is important to use double quotes for the characters that have to be concatenated. This way, the characters will be treated as simple strings.
3. Use Precise Naming Conventions:
When it comes to Java clean code best practices, this one certainly tops the list. Expert developers are expected to first set a proper naming convention for their projects. They have to finalize proper, explanatory names for all classes, interfaces, methods, variables, and all such finer aspects well before building any Java codes.
Moreover, all the developers working on the projects have to be well aware of the names of the project and have to follow the set format throughout the cycle.
4. Keep Redundant Initializations At Bay:
There are developers out there who initialize member variables with values: like 0, false and null. This has been a general practice that many developers follow.
However, it is not necessary as these values are already the default initialization values of member variables in Java. Developers can avoid redundancy with ease if they are aware of the default initialization values of member variables.
5. Use Underscores In Lengthy Numeric Literals:
Introduced in Java 7, this feature contributes greatly to helping developers organize their code in a way that is comprehensible to every team working on the project. The primary goal of this practice is to enhance the readability of the code.
As simple as this practice sounds, it is very important, especially in the case of complex scripts featuring lengthy numeric literals. For example, int num = 58356823 becomes int num = 58_356_823.
6. Leveraging Strings The Right Way:
Leveraging the strings handling feature is one of the most basic Java best practices. If not used correctly, it can lead to excessive memory usage. If there are a lot of loops, it can cause memory wastage. This will lead to an increase in performance time as well.
Additionally, if two Strings are concatenated in a loop, a new String object will be created at every iteration. Developers can consider instantiating a String Object to avoid using constructors for instantiation.
7. Always Fill The Catch Blocks:
Catch blocks are often left empty by developers who are new to software building. Any and every developer who has worked with complex development projects understands the importance of writing an articulate message in the catch block while exception handling. Why is this important?
An empty catch block means that it does not display any key information during the exception handling phase. This can make it challenging for developers to debug the system in the later stages.
8. Avoiding Memory Leaks:
When it comes to Java coding standards, this one is a must-follow. In Java, the memory is managed automatically by the language. As such, there is very little developers can do to handle errors in this area.
However, there are simple practices that developers can follow to prevent memory leaks, for example – releasing instances stored in Static Tables, releasing database connections without fail after querying is done, and using ‘Finally block’ frequently.
9. StringBuilder or StringBuffer For Concatenation:
Similar to many other popular coding languages, leveraging the + operator to join Strings is known to be a basic practice in Java as well. In some cases, when you need to concatenate numerous strings, using the + operator can be tricky.
This is because the Java compiler creates multiple intermediate String objects before creating the final concatenated string. The ideal solution for this problem is to leverage StringBuilder or StringBuffer – two key built-in functions that alter a String without creating intermediate String objects.
10. Noting Down Insightful Comments:
Clear documentation and commotion is the key to ensuring the seamless success of a project. With the help of well-written comments, different teams working on a particular project can stay updated on the modifications made or the progress of overall the project.
They can make use of this information to work in a collaborative way. These comments can also serve as a guide for the teams dealing with different aspects of the development cycle such as developers, testers, maintenance teams, or quality assurance teams.
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Today, Java runs on 3 billion devices worldwide. Many server-side applications are written in Java which processes tens of millions of requests per day. It is used to develop desktop and mobile apps, android apps, server apps, software tools, J2ME apps, embedded systems, big data processing, scientific applications, and the list goes on. Given its capabilities, Java is in demand today. As such, training online in Java will give aspiring developers an edge in this competitive industry.
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