The Preferred Style for Single Decision and Action Statements in Coding

When writing code, developers often encounter questions about style and readability. One common point of contention is whether to use brackets for single decision and action statements. This discussion is not only about personal preference; it’s critical for ensuring the overall readability and maintainability of the code, especially in a collaborative environment.

The Question at Hand

In programming languages that support single decision and action statements without brackets, such as:

if (var == true)
    doSomething();

developers are often faced with the decision of whether to adopt a more formal style using brackets, like so:

if (var == true) {
    doSomething();
}

So, what is the right approach? Should brackets always be used for consistency and clarity, or should it be left to the individual developer’s discretion? And does the size of the code block matter? Let’s delve into these questions.

The Points of View

Consistency is Key

One of the strongest arguments for using brackets, even when not strictly necessary, is consistency. Here’s why maintaining a consistent style is essential:

• Readability: Code that follows a consistent style is typically more readable. Any developer reading the code can immediately understand the structure without confusion or ambiguity.
• Ease of Maintenance: When everyone adheres to the same style guide, it makes it easier to modify or debug code later on. Changes are predictable and less prone to errors.

Personal Preference vs. Company Standards

While personal preference plays a role in coding style, many organizations have established coding standards. The consensus is that the best practice is to follow these standards for several reasons:

• Team Collaboration: When working in teams, aligning style preferences fosters better collaboration and understanding among team members.
• Meeting Expectations: Companies may have specific guidelines which dictate the use of brackets. Adhering to these can enhance professionalism and meet code review requirements.

The Size of the Code Block Matters

Another factor to consider is the size and complexity of the code block. In simple conditional statements, omitting brackets might not introduce significant risks. However, as complexity increases, brackets can clarify code structure. For instance:

if (var == 1)
    doSomething(1);
else if (var > 1 && var < 10)
    doSomething(2);
else
{
    validate(var);
    doSomething(var);
}

In this example, using brackets can help distinguish between multiple actions and make it clear what belongs to the else block, thus avoiding potential bugs or confusion.

Conclusion

In the “holy war” of coding styles, there isn’t a definitive right or wrong answer regarding the use of brackets for single decision and action statements. The importance of consistency, adherence to coding standards, and consideration of code block complexity should guide your approach in writing clean, understandable code. Ultimately, whether to use brackets or not depends on your team’s code standards and commitment to uniformity across the codebase.

By prioritizing readability and maintainability, you can make coding a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved in the project.