Clean Code: Best Practices for Web Developers

Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand. Clean code is the foundation of maintainable software—code that's easy to read, understand, and modify. Here are the essential practices every developer should follow.

1. Use Meaningful Names

Variable, function, and class names should reveal intent. Avoid cryptic abbreviations and single-letter names (except for loop counters). A name should answer why it exists, what it does, and how it's used.

// Bad
const d = new Date();
function calc(a, b) { return a * b * 0.8; }

// Good  
const currentDate = new Date();
function calculateDiscountedPrice(price, quantity) {
  const discountRate = 0.8;
  return price * quantity * discountRate;
}

2. Keep Functions Small and Focused

Functions should do one thing, do it well, and do nothing else. If you can't describe what a function does in a single sentence without using "and," it's doing too much. Aim for functions that fit on one screen without scrolling.

3. Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY)

Duplication is the root of all evil in software. When you copy and paste code, you create multiple places to update and multiple sources of bugs. Extract repeated logic into reusable functions or components.

4. Write Self-Documenting Code

Good code explains itself through clear naming and structure. Comments should explain WHY, not WHAT. If you need comments to explain what code does, the code probably needs refactoring.

// Bad comment - explains what (unnecessary)
// Loop through users array
users.forEach(user => { ... })

// Good comment - explains why
// Users must be validated before activation
// to prevent fraudulent accounts
if (user.email && user.verified) {
  activateUser(user);
}

5. Handle Errors Gracefully

Don't ignore errors or catch exceptions without handling them. Provide meaningful error messages, log appropriately, and fail gracefully. Your code should anticipate failure and handle it elegantly.

6. Consistent Formatting and Style

Use a linter (ESLint, Prettier) and stick to it. Consistent indentation, spacing, and naming conventions make code predictable and easier to read. The specific style matters less than consistency across your codebase.